Arts Martha’s Vineyard, a collaboration of members of the Vineyard’s arts, culture, and business communities, to promote and support the arts on the Vineyard begins tomorrow. The multi-partner undertaking will attempt to drive business growth through marketing.
“The subject is the value of the creative economy – the total impact of arts, culture and design-related – and what can be done to focus and expand creative industries on Martha’s Vineyard,” Nancy Gardella said this week. Ms. Gardella is executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce and a lead organizer of the month of activities, which are jointly sponsored by The Martha’s Vineyard Times.
“With added focus, economic, legislative and media initiatives there’s no limit to how that can grow,” Ms. Gardella said. “And with the wealth of creative people and a history of strong creative capacity, we will benefit from understanding best practices statewide.”
One element of the month-long effort is the Creative Economy Brown Bag Tuesdays speaker series, which spans the month of October
“This dynamic speaker series is designed to spark the imagination of every Vineyarder, as well as begin a dialogue between the arts and business communities” said Ann Smith, director of Featherstone Center for the Arts and chairman of Arts Martha’s Vineyard. Each Tuesday in October from 11:30 am to 1pm, the Harbor View Hotel will host a brown bag lunch with featured speakers, including, on October 2, Clare O’Connor talking about the Martha’s Vineyard’s Arts and Artisans Trail Mobile App. Ms O’Connor is director of economic initiatives for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. On October 9, it’s Building Martha’s Vineyard’s Creative Economy, with Helena Fruscio, creative economy industry director of the state’s Department of Housing and Economic Development.
The October schedule for the Creative Economy speaker series may be found on Page 2A this morning.
Arts Martha’s Vineyard has a solid foundation in data that suggests the arts and the creative economy account for a significant share of the Island economy. The 2010 U.S. census revealed that, without any coordinated effort, the creative economy on Martha’s Vineyard drives more than 10 percent of the overall economy. This encouraging information led, 18 months ago to a collaboration that launched Arts Martha’s Vineyard. It became a project to see if some determination, imagination, and cooperation just might boost the Island’s economy while showcasing the richness of our arts and culture.
Information gathering, grant writing, advocacy, technological development and relationship building, all played a part in the development of Arts Martha’s Vineyard. And, this spring, the Cape Cod Arts Foundation invited the Vineyard organizers to participate join in a region-wide Fall for the Arts campaign. Fall for the Arts is a partnership on the expanded geographic stage among the same three communities: arts, culture, and business
The Vineyard Fall for the Arts will include familiar Island events, such as the Living Local Harvest Festival, the Art of Chocolate Festival, the Vineyard Artisans Festival, plus gallery strolls, readings, exhibitions, and more. And there are some fresh additions, including the Local Wild Food Challenge, Art Island Celebration of Arts and Imagination.
Creative Economy Brown Bag Lunch Speaker Series
Every Tuesday, from 11:30 am-1 pm, at the Harbor View Hotel. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Feel free to bring your lunch.
October 2
Martha’s Vineyard Arts and Artisan’s Trail Mobile App
Clare O’Connor, Director of Economic Initiatives, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. Calling all artists, artisans, galleries, art centers and museums to join this effort to bring the Cape & Islands Arts and Artisans Trails into the digital age. For more information, contact Clare O’Connor:clare@capecodchamber.org, 508-776-6810.
October 9
Building Martha’s Vineyard’s Creative Economy, Helena Fruscio
Creative Economy Industry Director, Commonwealth of MA Department of Housing and Economic Development with speak about Building Martha’s Vineyard Creative Economy. RSVP to Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce 508.693.0085 ext. 0
October 16
Martha’s Vineyard Legislative Delegation:State Senator Dan Wolf, State Representative Tim Madden, and State Representative Sarah Peake, Co-Chair of the legislature’s Arts, Culture andTourism Committee.
Learn how Massachusetts supports arts and culture in the State and on Martha’s Vineyard . RSVP to Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce 508.693.0085 ext. 0
October 23
Creative Economy: Media and the Arts with representatives from the Cape and Islands NPR, Martha’s Vineyard Patch, MVTV, the Martha’s Vineyard Times, the Vineyard Gazette, WMVY Radio will engage in a panel discussion about Media and the Arts on Martha’s Vineyard. RSVP to Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce 508.693.0085 ext. 0
October 30
A National Perspective on the Arts with Rocco Landesman National Endowment for the Arts will address The Arts – A National Perspective RSVP to Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce
508.693.0085 ext. 0
For information about the Speaker Series, please contact: Arts Martha’s Vineyard info@artsmarthasvineyard.org and/or Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce 508.693.0085 ext. 0
