RATP Dev USA’s Post

I love bold ideas for reshaping the way we support arts & culture in our country. This is an interesting one: what if we funded operating costs as infrastructure? "As with infrastructure projects such as the building and maintenance of highways, funding cultural institutions will directly support employment: Culture in the United States employs about five million people and pumps about $1 trillion into the economy annually. New funding would boost local economies, cultivate a more equitable arts sector, and promote and protect arts organizations in small and medium-size cities. It would help to disentangle larger arts institutions from the largess of wealthy individuals and corporations, which currently wield an inordinate and thorny amount of influence. (Think of the Sackler family.) And it could defang some of the most pernicious culture-war arguments against arts funding, since it’s much harder to object to paying to fix a museum’s leaky roof than to paying to exhibit a photograph." A good read! Thanks for sharing it Joe Waters!

Phase II of the 2034sight Plan involves building an Ohio-Columbus Tunnel, an electrified two-track tunnel that would connect the Museum Campus, the future Bally’s Casino site at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, and the Fulton Market district. Doing so would create the first four of the previously mentioned CrossTowners routes. This would be the crux of the 2034sight Plan.

Exciting developments are underway at Aurora Downtown as we continue to enhance our vibrant brand. Over the past few weeks, we've seen remarkable momentum with successful consumer events and business development initiatives that have energized our downtown. In May, our Annual Food Truck Fest (during First Fridays) was a resounding success. We delighted attendees with a diverse array of both beloved and innovative food offerings across 30 food trucks. The event exceeded expectations in terms of local and out-of-state attendance, appeal, and performance for the organization and vendors -- making it a standout occasion endorsed by the City of Aurora which stated it was “one for the record books!” Consumer engagements are integral to our strategy, driving foot traffic, expanding our audience, and showcasing downtown Aurora's dynamic atmosphere. Attendees were particularly enthusiastic about our newly launched branded merchandise, embracing both its fresh look and the narrative it embodies about Aurora. In addition to consumer events, May also saw us making waves at the Memorial Day Parade. Our new street banners, a featured float appearance of “Aurora, our Goddess of the Dawn,” and staff engagement with the crowds resonated deeply with parade-goers of all ages, highlighting our commitment to community interaction and city pride. June marked another milestone with the unveiling of a striking new mural in downtown Aurora. https://lnkd.in/gpr5Q3GN This public artwork not only enriches our cultural landscape but also plays a vital role in attracting businesses and fostering economic growth. Its impact has been noted by business prospects considering Aurora as their next destination. Aurora is poised and ready for new opportunities. Join us as we continue to grow, innovate, and welcome all to experience the spirit of our city. Aurora Awaits You. We’re open for business. info@auroradowntown.org  development@investaurora.org #AuroraDowntown #CommunityEngagement #BusinessInnovation #CityPride #FirstFridays #downtownaurora #downtowneconomicdevelopment #publicart #citymurals #auroraillinois #mainstreet #cityliving #entrepreneursnewdestination #citybranding

🌱How can we build artist residencies as sites for community care? At The LP, we open our doors to a variety of needs, experiences, and perspectives shared by artists, residents, community leaders, and peers. ✨ As we dive into this year’s residency, our flagship Create Change, we’re taking a moment to pause and uplift a reader published by Rethinking Residencies, a network of NY-based artist and curator residency programs. This reader offers a refreshed take on the power of convening and truly caring for local artists: “Because residencies have a specific purpose, distinct from museums, galleries, and other structures in the art world, with care for individuals at its core, we are well-positioned to advocate for care as a model across the art world, in opposition to the exploitation of artists that so often occurs.” (pg. 46) By nurturing creative pursuits that build community power, we can bridge the gap that often exists between institutions and real communities – a gap that is fueled by structural racism and the harsh realities of capitalism. Pouring into socially engaged art practices is how we can support community transformation while fostering a culture of care and recognition that artists and their communities deserve. Reflect: What local resources, relationships, and organizations support and inspire your creative practice?

⭐ 🌟 Great to hear about the museums up for the 2024 Museum of the Year Award. 👏 👏 As large museums and visitor attractions in the UK continue to diversify activities, re-imagine buildings, and create community partnerships, it's wise to build in vital insurance considerations to protect people, property and reputation. Here at PIB Insurance Brokers we are on hand to help. #museuminsurance #museums #visitorattraction #insurancereview #PIB #riskmanagement

Another tremendous nudge in the right direction from David Maggs, Metcalf Foundation. To which I can't help but respond with the same argument I've been making for years ... Just as Vicki Stroich brilliantly puts it: "Our collective imagination needs to work harder. We need to go beyond imagining new technologies, we need to imagine new ways to live and form community, and new ways to invite people into those stories and visions." YES. And she says, "Dramaturgy for me has always been about helping artists open up a pathway to the most potent expression they can possibly make ..." To which, again, I say YES. But I can't help but feel that we are not going far enough when she says that thinking beyond bias is thinking in story. Art-as-story is already our bias. And it is a beautiful and wonderful bias to have. But I think it's a continued failure of imagination for western dramaturgy to keep storytelling on a higher pedestal than audience experience. This is especially magnified by citing David's other essay(s) which implore the actual practical engagement of the audience. Western story structure is an argumentative structure. The tradition of multi-act dramatically active dialogue is intentionally rooted in spreading political bias. And, sometimes, that's fine. But if we want the arts to catalyze a cultural shift of thinking around our approaches to the climate crisis, then we could stand to demonstrate the possibility of such shifts. Story itself (if used at all), has to be one humble tool, not the whole shed.

🖼💡 Here's a great idea: To save museums, treat them like highways. Did you know? “Culture in the United States employs about five million people and pumps about $1 trillion into the economy annually.” In their guest essay for The New York Times, co-authors Laura Raicovich (former director of the Queens Museum), and Laura Hanna (board chair for Powerhouse Arts), argue, “We need to treat culture as equal to other forms of national infrastructure, as important to our national well-being as safe roads, clean drinking water and accessible utilities…. New funding would boost local economies, cultivate a more equitable arts sector, and promote and protect arts organizations,” they say. Read more about their proposed federal funding strategy: https://bit.ly/3SB6sxU

Exciting to see the launch event for our report on #CleanTransport coming together. If you are interested in the #energytransition and how #mobility will play a part - register your interest below! Globe Law and Business Ltd Addleshaw Goddard Insight

Major upgrade of Pontardawe Arts Centre to start

As we head into the Autumn/ Winter it's always worthwhile reflecting on how summer was. For me? I spent August changing nappies and shushing our baby to sleep every three hours. But the industry has had a "mixed bag" to say the least. Read Simon's latest article, and find out the trends you can capitalise on in the next few months. #marketing #visitorattraction #visitors