Director's Note: Culture Crawl Defines "Creative Economy"
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| Saturday, September 12 • 4 – 8 pm • Uptown Martinsville |
More and more we are hearing terms like
“creative economy” and “cultural economy,” which points to the critical role
that arts and culture play in how communities differentiate and market themselves.
According to an online report entitled Economic
Vitality: How the Arts and Culture Sector Catalyzes Economic Vitality, the
use of these terms “indicates recognition of the connections among fields of
planning, economic development, and arts and culture.”
Our community’s arts and culture will
be in the spotlight on September 12 as we hold the third annual Martinsville Culture Crawl. This event
brings arts and cultural organizations together, as well as other businesses
and institutions to celebrate the things that make us unique. Beginning at 4 p.m.
on that Saturday, people can enjoy the latest exhibit at Piedmont Arts, Fired Up!, free admission and music on
the patio at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, check out art at the
Historic Little Post Office and enjoy Hamlet Vineyard wines, explore the
stained glass windows at the First Baptist Church, visit the artists of Studio
107, Gallery 22, and the newly opened Village of Dreams and deSpot School of
Art, as well as the community’s public art throughout Uptown Martinsville. You can end your evening at the historic Rives
Theatre for Patrick Henry Community College Patriot Players’ production of The Doyle and Debbie Show! Many other
venues will be open and offering entertainment and other amenities. To stay
up-to-date on the Culture Crawl, click
here >>
Why is it important to highlight arts
and culture in our community? According to Economic
Vitality: How the Arts and Culture Sector Catalyzes Economic Vitality, arts
and culture can “improve a community’s competitive edge; create a foundation
for defining a sense of place; attract new and visiting populations; and
integrate the visions of community and business leaders. The Culture Crawl is one way to recognize
our collective arts and culture assets and market them to Martinsville-Henry
County and the surrounding area, and increasing the number of visitors to our
community.
Come and visit Uptown
Martinsville on September 12. For the cost of a $10 wristband you can enjoy the
use of the shuttle, special discounts at various Uptown locations, and $2 off
tickets for the Patriot Players’ show at the Rives Theatre. Come out for the
third annual Culture Crawl…you may be
surprised at the rich arts and culture landscape that is already present in our
community!
Director's Note is a monthly blog by Piedmont Arts Executive Director Kathy Rogers, examining the impact of the arts in our community.
Contact Kathy at kathyrogers@piedmontarts.org.
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