Arts Summit 2007 October 19-20, 2007 Casper Events Center

Speaker: Dana Gioia, Chair of the National Endowments for the Arts • people process information differently – paper/computers • high level of learned skills (reading, math) progress ends at age 13 • easier to get message out in smaller communities because you know everyone • you want to create citizens – not artists • start involving youth at age 13 • 54% of young people can’t read • most people are consumers not citizens • be ambitious addressing politicians and media • models come out of smaller communities • future of our country is in the west • power of individual imagination • we are lucky because we are in a prosperous state (opportunity to invest in future of Wyoming – not an expense but an investment • create community where people want to live – quality of life • arts and education can’t change weather but can change culture • young people are choosing where to live by what a community has to offer • if you have a good community theater/symphony/galleries in your downtown area then good dining, etc. will following • culture beyond price • take necessary steps to prosperous community

Patrick Overton (cultural assessment of communities), Stuart Rosenfeld (economic development), Robert Bluestone (classical guitarist) • art – deep voice of the soul • interested in individuals and how they interact • small rural communities – less than 81 • small communities – less than 10,000 • art – re-education of adults (you are concerned about the what kids are allowed to do now days, most are addicted to computer games and methamphetamines - do nothing for 8 hours a day) • don’t say the word ART (people are either art scarred or art scared) • be able to disagree and learn – that is when creativity/trust/cooperation begins • sports – don’t be opposed to make allies – kids need to do arts & sports everyday (Greeks said) • Last Child in the Woods – environment story • develop shared vocabulary • creativity – constructive & destructive • get involved in politics and change the way people think • find a Lightnin’ Hopkins (Texas state’s best singer) Crockett, Texas in your town • Apple computer – good/bad story (give to world and share it) • definition of a creative town – how to make a living; how to spend leisure time (music; concerts; theater) ; what attracts tourist • find your inter-Austin; Colquitt, Georgia (Swamp Gravy – a play that united a town and moved a nation) transform southern life into unforgettable theatre. • Paducah, Kentucky – fiddler contest • New generation is called the “Young and the Restless” – they look for communities where they want to be – creative towns that attract and keep people. • figure out what will distinguish you from other communities – you want a community bond • Kids need something to do in their community – build bridges – example of police department hosting midnight basketball leagues – Chief of Police had picnic for new Hispanic population in town – he couldn’t speak Spanish but he wanted them to know that he had police officers on his force that could – all this will help with drug problems – if you get kids involved in the right things) have them build mosaic tiles on walls, etc. • creativity is the currency of the 21st century • never say donate – say - would you like to make an investment in the community? • Art from noun to verb • Art is the expression of being human • understand who is in your community and learn their language • get to know the decision makers of your community on a personal level • arts are push-ups for the imagination - makes people more creative • networking – planning – be clear where you want to go • now what others are doing in your community • think regional with small towns (Wyoming is a small community with long streets) • how do you reach laborers? - respect them – find out where they are – what they want & like – theater is your living room – those people are us – may not be what you want.

Jay Dick (Director of for the Arts – Washington, D.C.); Senator Rosenburg; Robert Bluestone • have a Arts Advocacy Day in Cheyenne – get 50 people to where shirts with logo and talk to logo legislators – • Governors Arts Awards – February 22 • Do short interviews – what we are doing this coming year; how and what impact it has to the community • Know you legislators – talk to all year long • Send letters – if you get more than 10 letters on one topic he will be asking staff why he didn’t sponsor the bill • Board members get friends to write letters to local newspaper about what you are doing in your community and why it is important • TEAL grant • Wyoming Cultural Trust – has $400,000 a year to give away • Advocacy Program o Map makers – readers - & pilots – don’t need any more captains o Situational leaders – true believers who feel comfortable talking to non-believers) o Leadership program – identify middle managers – wide range of community interest – find young people o Politics of place – promote healthy viable community not art o October – breast cancer/national advocacy month o 1 art credit to graduate from high school o Patrick Newell – Centennial Singers – University of Wyoming – wants to start Opera Company in Jackson – has a 15year business plan

Daniel Kemmis – (former Mayor of Missoula, Montana – House of Representatives) Author of Community and the Politics of Place and the Good City and the Good Life. His newest book, This Sovereign Land: A New Vision for Governing the West. Recognized as one of Utne Reader in 1995 as its “100 Visionaries”

• Sense of home in community • A Carousel for Missoula, MT (story when he was Mayor) • Find the niche in your community – may not be what you think it is – didn’t know we needed a carousel in Missoula • International Choral Festival • Gallery Night • Offer quality of life and your community will have a prosperous community – economically/socially/spiritually/culturally • History – is one damm thing after another – Winston Churchill (aids/global warming, etc.) • You can do what needs to be done – don’t depend on political group to get it done – if you wait for it to appear – it never will • Civilization is not what happened long ago – it is what we do now in our communities • Walking paths to carousel (grandson/son story)

David Overton • Cultural assessment of community • New Richmond, Wisconsin story ($93M School Bond – population 7,500) • Before he commits to a project he spends three days with focus groups (minimum of 5 people that work well together) • Gathering places – what are needs of community – surveys; interviews; • Redevelopment of downtown • There are two different types of people in a community o residents are people that live in your community – not engaged o citizens are people that make a contribution to your community • Community was divided – had nothing to due with issues and all to do with communications • What everyone was saying had value – some had difficulty delivering the message • Community conversation - get kids involved – when you ask parents about what they like most about a community they say it is safe and a good place to raise their kids – when you ask their kids – what they are most worried about – it is the drug lords that are around their playgrounds (they don’t tell parents because they would never let them out of their house). • Know your community and who is in it o old people won’t buy season tickets or green bananas o people stopped building porches when air conditioning was invented – locked doors and shut windows – garage doors – go months without seeing neighbors – back decks were built with fences o story of town who had to have porches – Mayor admitted that he hated walking his dog – people where on porches and he couldn’t get his dog walked o listen to people (especially when discussing something that you feel that you are right about) as though your idea or thought is wrong. This way you will not be thinking about what you are going to say but you will actually be listening to them. o you need a gathering place for your community o third brain – when you use both right & left and something new comes out o healthy communities consists of healthy individuals if we maintain them • Handouts from Patrick Overton o The Essentials of Managing Change and Transition (8 steps to change) o Manage Your Time o Engaging the Democracy of Civil Discourse (Strategies to Enhance Community Cultural Development by Rebuilding The Front Porch of Our Community) • Civility: Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy • The Meaning of Civility • Choosing Civility • Understanding Human Communication o Stages of Organizational Development & Transition from Navigating White Water in a Leaky Raft o The Poetry of Place – Strategies for Breaking the Fifth Wall by Understanding Organizational Cultures of Cultural Organizations o Stress Self-Assessment Quiz o The Arts as Cultural Catalyst for Creativity; Citizen Entrepreneurship; and Economic, Community and Workforce Development

Robert Bluestone • Mayor of Thermopolis hated art o Join his rotary group; be a member for a year and don’t say anything – just listen – don’t sell tickets – do the work and when they see you doing this then they will come to you o Advocacy is about building relationships to get to know who is in your community o Have those who like art the least introduce an artist at your next function o He will send a disk without 403.7 MG of studies, paper, articles, etc. in the next week o Wyoming is the top 11 states that are spending money on art

David Romtvedt, Wyoming Laureate – Invite to Pearls of the Prairie Banquet for poetry – Fireants (Cajun music) The FIREANTS (David Romtvedt), 457 N. Main, Buffalo, WY 82834, (307) 684-2194

• Read Poems o Uncle Will o College – Oregon o Talking with the Governor (lost friends dog)

• Speakers – First Lady Nancy Freudenthal o Mentioned Gillette’s art downtown • Governor David Freudental o Mentioned Mayor Evenson and what he has done with the arts and then mentioned how much money Gillette has and tried to get out of that before Senator Enzi spoke • Senator Mike Enzi • Senator Stan Rosenberg of Massachusetts o Mentioned the 100 days to make $100,000 and to take advantage of the people in office that are supportive of the arts because that could change • Bob Berky – Theatrical Clown – The Tightrope

Send info on MAC to Paul Harrison, Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Laramie – P.O. Box C, Laramie, WY 82073.