Building Blocks

Okay, I'm back. Not that I've been anywhere but here and still thinking about this potentially great little neighborhood. And how art can make it better. There's a new grant initiative at the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. It's called Creative Intersections. It's about developing real partnerships: art organizations, businesses and municipal or other government agencies to collaborate on an art-related project that will have a life beyond the project somehow. It's a challenging proposition that demands thinking a little deeper and having a broader vision about the kinds of projects that such a cross-sector collaboration can engender. I'd like to suggest that those of us interested in using the arts as building blocks to construct a richer, homier, livelier and culturally vital community begin by thinking about projects that deepen the sense of place and history of the West End area. It's not so much about applying for a grant as it is about beginning to consider what kinds of programs, events or activities we could work together on that would have a long-lasting impact; that might serve as a beginning rather than an end.