In addition to the serious subject of Cook County’s economy, there were lots of smiles as friends discussed the things they love about our community. Above: Grand Marais Art Colony Director Amy Demmer welcomed everyone.
Community members were invited to an “IDEA” meeting on Wednesday, May 11 at the Voyageur Brewing Company in Grand Marais. The invitation from the Cook County Arts and Culture Economic Planning Team included three questions intended to get participants thinking about the role of arts in Cook County.
Those questions were repeated on large easels and attendees were given markers and post-it notes to share their answers to: . What do you think are the unique elements of Cook County’s identity as a destination? . What do you love about Cook County that you want preserved? Built upon? . What do you believe are the economic and community development priorities that might build on the strengths of arts and culture to the economy of the county as a whole?
Attendees chatted, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, and shared their thoughts on the big tablets, waiting to hear from members of the Arts and Culture Economic Planning Team on what is next for Cook County artists. Grand Marais Art Colony Director Amy Demmer welcomed everyone and introduced members of the planning team.
Left: Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, gave a brief summary of her organization’s study of the arts in Minnesota. Above: Grand Marais Playhouse Director Sue Hennessy and Arts Planning Team member Ginny Grant discuss the survey results.
The Arts and Culture Economic Planning Team that was formed followed the interesting results of the study released in November 2015 which showed that the nonprofit arts and culture sector of Cook County’s economy generates over $4.6 million in total economic impact annually. The study, Creative Minnesota: The Impact and Health of the Nonprofit Arts and Culture Sector, found that 17 nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Cook County support the equivalent of 127 full-time jobs in the city, and that 78,000 people attend nonprofit arts and cultural events annually.
According to Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, which conducted the study, although Cook County ranked 16th of the 17 local areas studied in size of population, the county ranked 7th in overall economic impact. Cook County ranked 3rd among the cities studied in this report, behind only Minneapolis and St. Paul, in per capita economic impact from the arts and culture, with a whopping $889 for every one of the county’s 5,176 residents.
Smith was on hand at Voyageur Brewing to deliver a first-hand summary of the study and to offer encouragement to Cook County as it proceeds with its road map and strategy to develop Cook County as an arts destination.
Smith encouraged attendees to take part in another survey, the Creative Minnesota Artists and Creative Worker’s Study. She said the study would be used to generate public and private support and to advocate for more services for artists and creative workers. The online survey can be found at bit.ly/MNArtistsCount.
Other speakers were Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux, County Commissioner Jan Sivertson, Visit Cook County Director Linda Kratt and others, all pledging to work together to strengthen the arts economy.
For more information about the Cook County Arts and Culture Economic Planning Team, contact Amy Demmer at (218) 387- 2737 or director@grandmaraisartcolony.org.
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