Digital Fluency.

IDEAS 40203 and YouthBuild Louisville have been rolling out after-school projects in Smoketown as part of the Creative Innovation Zone grant from ArtPlace America. One of the major initiatives is the STEAM EXCHANGE -- an emerging makerspace in Smoketown where people of all ages from the neighborhood will have access to tools and training to produce creative works. Steam Exchange has already had over 400 young people participate in its arts programming in the first two months alone.

Last week, we rolled out a new phase of the Exchange -- a new partnership with Louisville's coder community. We will teach young adults the art of basic coding, a marketable trade skill, in a supportive and fun way right in the Smoketown neighborhood.

Besides being fun, the free digital class will help real organizations in the community. While learning valuable hands-on experience building mobile-friendly websites, the young adults will be helping local businesses in Smoketown become more connected online.

The class will also teach leadership, entrepreneurship and life skills under the guidance of volunteer mentors who are professionals working in the coding field.

Check out the Steam Exchange's new website and also follow them on the Creative Innovation Zone blog.

The artisans of Anchal Project. Photo courtesy of http://anchalproject.org

True Colors.

The IDEAS team went to an event last night that we felt needed to be shared and supported. Anchal Project is a nonprofit organization that addresses the exploitation of women around the world by using design thinking to create employment opportunities, services and products that support economic empowerment. Their current priority is to provide commercial sex workers in India with careers in textile & design production.

Learn More.

Photo courtesy of 502 Moto.

Motor Art.

There is a great show at the Green Gallery right now. 502 MOTO was formed to provide art, installation, fabrication and sculptural works on both commercial and residential scales. Owner Brad White has exhibited his work both nationally and internationally, spanning the bridge between fine art and commercial installation work. These motorbikes are works of art and actually function as motorbikes. Awesome Stuff! Check it out.

Learn more on their FB page.

Gorgeous Moves.

Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) travels the world, inspiring audiences and celebrating diversity. On their first professional tour in ten years, this vibrant cultural organization takes on a new challenge - "to redefine ballet in the 21st century." The performance will be held at The Kentucky Center on Saturday, November 1, 2014 Click here for more info.

On Thursday, October 30 at 7pm in the Bates Memorial Baptist Church Worship Center in Smoketown (Lampton Street), DTH will be conducting an introductory movement workshop with a few people who live, work, worship and learn in our neighborhood. The DTH workshop, open for free viewing by the public, is part of IDEAS 40203 and YouthBuild Louisville's Creative Innovation Zone funded by ArtPlace America.

Find out more about the Smoketown Arts series.

Page from Vision Smoketown report.

Emerging Picture.

Jefferson County Chapter of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth released its Vision Smoketown report this week. A community-canvassing project designed to help learn more about Smoketown residents' concerns and their visions for the future of their neighborhood. Design work was donated by Kertis Creative and the entire 34-page document is available on KFTC's website.

Read Insider Louisville Article.

Next Phase.

In 2014, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Louisville, KY a $50,000 "Our Town" grant to place artists on project teams inside of corporations. The Louisville initiative, referred to as "The Accelerator", is designed to make Louisville businesses more dynamic and profitable. The initiative was created by Theo Edmonds, co-founder of IDEAS 40203, a contemporary art chamber of commerce. The fiscal sponsor and collaborator on The Accelerator is IDEAS 40203's sister organization, Brooklyn-based, Residency Unlimited, and Metro Louisville Goverment including Louisville Forward and the Mayor's Commission on Public Art.

In the coming days, we will be rolling out a city-wide initiative called XLerateArt -- the result of this collaboration. Also, announced soon, will be the first two amazing projects of the XLerateArt initiative. We will cause artists and businesses to think about their relationship to each other in radical new ways by seeking out the equation that can best be described as 1+1=3.

Stay tuned.