The Role of Art and Artists in Building Business and Communities
This module will focus on place-keeping and will feature case studies and actionable recommendations for cross-sector collaboration between municipalities, arts organizations and artists to build communities, spur the creative economy and to leverage arts and culture as a driver of activities in our cities.
Speakers:
Jonathan Berk, New England Director, Patronicity
Jonathan is a real estate consultant, attorney, and licensed broker pushing the frontiers of urban development. With special expertise in community-building and place-making, he works with both sophisticated and novice developers and investors to help them navigate complex development processes to realize their creative visions.
Beth Flowers, Executive Director, The AIR Institute
Beth is a national leader in the fields of arts professional development, community development, and entrepreneurship. As the creator and Director of the AIR Institute of Berea College, she is at the forefront of connecting artists and creatives to their communities in new ways that truly raise the value of art and creativity.
Lynne McCormack, National Director of Place-making, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
As head of the creative place-making program, Lynne oversees LISC’s many projects that bring arts and culture into the work of comprehensive community development. Before joining LISC, Lynne served as the director of Art, Culture and Tourism for the city of Providence. For over thirty years, she has worked at the intersection of arts and community, forging partnerships that brought grants, festivals, employment opportunities and increased funding for arts-based development to the city.
