CRAFT Vice President Ann Pifer and I attended the recent Craft Organization Development Association (CODA) Conference, held here in our backyard April 23-26. Ann will report next week.
A highlight of the conference for me was the keynote speech from Ann Markusen, Director of The Project on Regional and Industrial Economics at the Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota. Dr. Markusen focuses on occupational approaches to regional development and on artists and cultural activity as regional economic stimulants. (In other words, she can tell us why fostering artists and the arts makes economic sense for communities.) Her research shows that artists and artisans are highly entrepreneurial and represent a hidden but vitally important arts dividend for the economy.
Also at the conference: Craig Nutt from the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) discussed the frequent loss in natural disasters of artist images and archives. Craig reminds artists (and others) to BACK UP YOUR DATA to a safe outside source!
ACRE's approaching - ARTISTS: be sure to forward your booth numbers to susan@thegrandhand.com for distribution to our RETAIL members. Thanks to those who have already done so!
Connect with CRAFT: can you lend a hand with CRAFT at ACRE? Contact Donna Milstein for information on how you can help while meeting and greeting in Las Vegas. donnamilstein@hotmail.com
Take a moment to use the Tip Forum - accessible on the home page of the website at www.craftonline.org
The 3/50 Project is based on the idea that independent specialty stores are important to our economy and can be helped when consumers take ownership and pledge to shop them! Consumers are asked to choose their 3 favorite retail stores and spend $50 a month (total) at them. Get involved at www.the350project.org
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17-Sep-09