Get creative: Art as an economic driver
PIKEVILLE, KY—The Central Appalachian Institute for Research and Development (CAIRD) will host the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) October 29-31, 2013 at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, KY.
The CIRD conference in Appalachian Eastern Kentucky will integrate arts and culture into existing community plans, raising awareness about the potential of artisans and craft industries to serve as an economic engine for a 54-county region. The workshop will bring together a wide range of participants, including local political leadership, tourism experts, arts organizations, cultural heritage experts, and federal government officials. Registration for the event is free at www.caird-connect.org.
The conference will demonstrate that incorporating arts and culture into community plans is affordable for all communities. The event will include recommendations and creative concepts for realistic, affordable initiatives to include artistic design, features, and programming in Eastern Kentucky communities. Eastern Kentucky has great potential for tourism development with beautiful mountains, winding rivers, trails, music, and colorful fall foliage. Further development of the arts and cultural fields will be a valuable asset to this emerging industry.
“CAIRD is proud to host this event,” said chief executive officer Dr. John “Jack” Herlihy. “We want to explore opportunities for economic growth in Central Appalachia. Arts development is good for the economy and communities. There is potential for business development, entrepreneurship, and job creation.”
Presenters for the 2.5-day event include Ed Barlow with North Star Destination Strategies; Sarah Evans with Southeast South-Central Educational Cooperative; Berea, KY Mayor Steven Connelly; Anne Gadwa Nicodemus with Metris Arts Consulting; June Holley, formerly with Appalachian Center for Economic Networks; Linda Caldwell with the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association; and several local speakers. Interactive roundtable and action planning sessions will engage participants in lively discourse and encourage critical and creative thinking.
CIRD conference bring together local leaders, non-profits, community organizations, and citizens with a team of specialists in design, planning, and creative placemaking to address design challenges identified by rural communities with a population of 50,000 or less. Presenters include national and local experts who will share knowledge and help participants develop creative plans and solutions for community and economic development.
CAIRD will apply for credits in the County Officials Training Program through the Department for Local Government and provide the Outside Training Request Form for the Kentucky League of Cities program for city official training credits.
The proposal submitted by the Central Appalachian Institute for Research and Development (CAIRD) was one of four selected by an advisory panel from a pool of 30 applicants this year.
“We were so impressed by the quality of applications we received. The selected communities demonstrate rich potential for leveraging partnerships to take action on rural design issues,” said Cynthia Nikitin, CIRD Program Director and Senior Vice President at Project for Public Spaces, Inc. “Rural design is an important tool for communities to build on existing assets and improve a community’s quality of life, and its economic viability.”
Lodging is available at the Hampton Inn Somerset, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Somerset, and Best Western Midtown Inn & Suites. Please mention the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design for conference pricing. Limited funds are available for assistance with lodging for organizations and persons needing financial assistance. CAIRD will also provide technical assistance and support to communities who wish to organize post-conference activities, including follow-up meetings and workshops. Please contact Melanie Stevens atMelanieStevens@upike.edu for additional information.
The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Project for Public Spaces, Inc., along with the Orton Family Foundation and the CommunityMatters® Partnership. Established in 1991, CIRD has convened more than 60 rural design workshops in all regions of the country, empowering residents to leverage local assets in order to build better places to live, work, and play. For more information, visit www.rural-design.org.
CAIRD is a non-profit, 501(c)3, public policy organization. Through applied research, the organization is dedicated to driving long-term development strategies to alleviate economic distress in Eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia. The organization strives to connect research with results to improve economic, community, and educational development strategies for sustainable progress. Visit www.caird-connect.org for additional information.
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Please feel free to contact any member of the CAIRD staff for questions or additional information.
Dr. John “Jack” Herlihy
Shawna Hall
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