Live in Chapel Hill? Your town needs your input!
Deep Dish Theater Manager and ArtWorks Working Group member, Devra Thomas, adds her thoughts.
A while back, in his blog, UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp took up the topic of the importance of a strong arts community for the future of Chapel Hill, stating
“Having a strong artistic presence also increases a town’s hipness. Some believe Durham is overtaking Chapel Hill and Carrboro as the cool corner of the Triangle. We can’t let that happen. We can’t let the Southern Part of Heaven and the Paris of the Piedmont outsource their cool to the Bull City.”
What does Chapel Hill, as a Town, need to do to become more supportive and welcoming to the arts community? Is Chapel Hill losing its hipness?
The "Tavern Talk" process in action.
As discusses in this blog previously, Chapel Hill is in the midst of a visioning process for its future, called Chapel Hill 2020. Last week, Chapel Hill 2020 leaders held a series of Tavern Talks, including one on the theme of “A Place for Everyone, diversity, cultural vibrancy, & the arts”. Very few arts folks were there, although we heard that many arts supporters have been involved in the process already. Still, there is always room for more input.
There is still time to have your say. Go here to find out all the ways you can still have input. The Town is doing an excellent job in trying to get as much input from as broad of a group as possible, but arts supporters need to be part of that group…in large numbers. Help spread the word!
Beth
Tags: "creative placemaking", Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 2020, economic impact of the arts