There's more than one way to build community, and arts and culture provides ample opportunity to do just that. Living in a hotbed for such activity, it seems entirely appropriate that the
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance has teamed up with the
Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations.
The organizations are co-presenting
Arts and Community Development: Dynamic Partners, a workshop and panel discussion set for Thursday, Sept. 8 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine St., Philadelphia). The program will include opportunities to learn about best practices of community development organizations, artists and cultural groups working collaboratively to advance revitalization strategies, locate space, and develop community programs. Special attention will be paid to partnership building, new funding sources, and smart use of data.
Guests include Maggie Mailer, co-founder of the
Pittsfield Storefront Artist Project, a nationally recognized model that uses arts as an economic catalyst in a distressed area of Western Massachusetts. The loss of 10,000 General Electric jobs there has had a major impact on the Pittsfield area's economy, population and morale. Now a weekly summer street festival attracts 10,000 people downtown on a regular basis as Pittsfield has become "the Brooklyn of the Berkshires."
Register
here. Cost is $15 for PACDC and Cultural Alliance members, $10 for each additional staff person, and $25 for non-members.
Source: Pamela Bridgeforth, Pennsylvania Association of Community Development Corporations
Writer: Joe Petrucci