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A Few Words From Debbie–Getting to Know You and Gratitude

 We are over the hump!

As of this week, we are halfway to our goal of delivering the next version of the cultural economic development plan for the Capital Region. Since January 2018, our tri-county cultural and economic leaders have been sharing their opinions and perspectives with Martin Cohen, our national consultant. These conversations focused on the goal of driving economic growth and community revitalization through building and supporting the arts and cultural sector. The updated plan will work to harness resources, encourage entrepreneurship, create placemaking opportunities and build the network of support required to create a stronger arts and cultural-infused community. And thanks to you, we are well on our way.

By weeks end, we will have engaged more than 400 individuals in this comprehensive planning process through focus groups, key interviews and an artists’ survey. And right now, that is where we need your help most of all.  Part of the process to create a robust plan is to identify our human assets – the creatives who live in the tri-counties. If you are a dancer, singer/songwriter, visual artist, designer, actor, director, filmmaker, producer, whatever your creative discipline, it’s important that we hear from you! So I ask that you please take a few minutes to tell us about yourself and your art by clicking the link below.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ef9fjwcojfe8mvtv/start

It is also time to thank all of the partners that have stepped up to help make this process so rewarding and come to fruition. The Community Foundation’s impact grant began the process, and in turn, has leveraged resources from Lansing Community College, the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau, Michigan State University, Greater Lansing Regional Prosperity Initiative, Lansing Economic Area Partnership, CATA, Lansing Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the East Lansing Downtown Development Authority.

We are extremely grateful for our community partners, and our entire community will be rewarded in a few months’ time with a planning document that will increase arts, culture and creativity as a driver of economic prosperity in our region!

We look forward to the continued sharing of all your voices, and in the mean time, happy Hump Day to you all!

Deborah E. Mikula
Arts Council of Greater Lansing, Executive Director