The document discusses how the arts contribute to building communities, highlighting a community arts program that served 12,000 residents with a budget of $225,000 annually from 1993 to 1995. It emphasizes the importance of starting small, collaborating with local artists, and using arts programs to foster economic development and community cohesion. Tom Tresser, the author, advocates for recognizing creativity as a vital and renewable resource that can be harnessed for civic engagement and problem-solving.

1. “ How Do the Arts Build Communities?” Part 2 [email_address] www.tresser.com

2. The Howard Theater Lobby Theater Open Mic Festivals Special events Meetings Upstairs Space Dances Rentals Classes

3. Other Spaces First floor of our HQ office bldg. On the street Nearby vacant lot

4. The Howard Theater No budget – no history? No problem… Sat in front of theater w. model Visited community organizations Signs asking for collaboration Built stage in lobby up against glass doors

5. The Community Arts Program April 1993 to Dec 1995 Staff of 7 Budget of $225,000 Serving approx. 12,000 community residents/year Stories in local papers, radio, magazines & TV Source of funds: Chicago Community Trust MacArthur Foundation City of Chicago CityArts Program Illinois Arts Council Local Initiatives Support Corp.

6. The Community Arts Program FIND ARTIIST AGREE ON PROJECT OR CLASS PH provided space, marketing, $ for supplies, coaching TRIAL RUN OF PROJECT EXPAND, INCREASE MARKETING, ADD SESSIONS PILOT MICRO-ENTERPRISE Unsuccessful - discontinue Successful – not appropriate for enterprise

7. The Community Arts Program EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS

10. START SMALL, FIND WHAT WORKS AND BUILD… Started as one-time event Monthly, then weekly Talent Show Cable TV Record album Writing class Newspaper Served as “point-of-entry” gateway All Ages Open Mic

11. FESTIVALS

13. Class leads to tile making/installation crew, becomes a co-op business

14. Watch video

15. Drum class students form performance ensemble for paying gigs

16. Do you watch Def Poetry Jam? Malik Yusef was part of the Howard Street Community Arts Program, with 2 tracks on “The Best of Howard Street.” Listen to “Hollywood Jerome.”

17. CAP Operating Principles… Start where the people are. Seduce, recruit local artists. Leverage mastery of space. Make the path by walking it. Listen, learn and lead. Iteration, quick start, use seed funds.

18. ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION http://www.xroadsproject.org 3 Premises Creativity is a muscle Art is information Communities are cultures

19. http://www.xroadsproject.org “ CRAFT” approach Contact Research Action Feedback Teaching

20. ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION * DOES THE ARTIST HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OFFER? 1. ARTISTS BRING NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND DOING 2. ARTISTS PRACTICE COLLABORATION AND TEAM BUILDING 3. ARTISTS CREATE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING AND HAVE VISION TO PRODUCE BEAUTY WHERE NONE IS OBVIOUS “ Imagination precedes implementation.”

21. ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION * HOW CAN THE ARTS FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? 1. ARTS PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TRUST, CIVIC COHESION 2. DOING ART BUILDS MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES AND DEVELOPS COLLABORATIVE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS 3. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS OFFER RICH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR THE CREATIVE ECONOMY

22. Arts+CD websites… www.villagearts.org www.manchesterguild.org www.creativecommunitiesonline.org

23. Arts+CD websites… www.developmentgateway.org www.cominguptaller.org www.communityarts.net

24. [email_address] www.tresser.com Creativity is America's most precious natural resource. It's renewable, unlimited and universally available. Creativity is our heritage, our promise and the source of our prosperity. And, like a natural resource, creativity needs to be respected, conserved, stewarded and celebrated. But, like a natural resource, creativity can be polluted, squandered and blocked. Tom Tresser is a consultant, producer, educator and trainer who can help individuals, companies and communities leverage and amplify their creative assets in order to solve problems, create economic value and trigger civic engagement.