The Cook County Creative Economy Collaborative (CEC), a group whose mission is to strengthen the Cook County arts economy, reports that it has received an “impressive” study of Cook County arts facilities that it commissioned from the nationally prominent Twin Cities nonprofit Artspace.
“We are very grateful for the quality of the study and the insights it provides,” said EDA director Mary Somnis, who serves as staff support to the collaborative. “Artspace has confirmed that Cook County and the CEC have the right people asking the right questions and tackling the right issues to move its creative economy forward. That is both reassuring and energizing.”
The Creative Economy Collaborative brings together representatives of local arts organizations, public officials and civic organizations such as the Cook County Chamber to focus on an agenda for strengthening the existing arts economy. The goal is to help ensure more artists and their families might enjoy more prosperous and secure lives that contribute to an economically vigorous community.
The CEC grew out of work done by the Cook County Go Team on ways of strengthening and diversifying the county economy, work by a small group of Blandin Community Leadership Program graduates and more than a year of developing a strategic framework for Cook County arts and culture. That latter planning effort was led by Arts Midwest, a prominent Minneapolis arts nonprofit.
With funding from the Blandin Foundation, the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and a number of Cook County organizations and individuals, the EDA contracted with Artspace on behalf of the CEC for a study that would “evaluate the potential for longterm affordable space solutions for Cook County’s creative sector and to recommend next steps.” Addressing the need for facilities was one of many issues identified in the strategic arts and culture framework developed with the help of Arts Midwest.
In its report, Artspace recommends three initiatives that would help “create more affordable space for the arts sector in Cook County”:
Mixed-use Artspace-style project that includes affordable live/work space for artists and non-residential space for arts organizations, creative businesses and other local, arts-friendly commercial enterprises.
Non-residential arts facility that includes studios, event space and perhaps a new home for the Grand Marais Art Colony.
Carve out space in existing and/or forthcoming developments by working with building owners and developers.
After extended discussion, a CEC consensus emerged that its critical next steps are to pause, inventory current local projects and priorities, and see how they develop before the CEC and the community embrace any of the three Artspace recommendations or other alternatives that might emerge.
Current projects and possibilities include:
. North House Folk School’s planning for the newly purchased Toftey fishing and Dockside restaurant properties. . Potential transfer of the Coast Guard station to Grand Marais and decisions on its ultimate use. . Completion of the substantial housing construction projects now under way or planned by the EDA, which include homes in Grand Marais and apartments in Lutsen, plus the effect of developer Bruce Block’s Village North project on the site of the old Gopher Cabins. . Reconstruction of Highway 61 through Grand Marais and its potential impact on development.
CEC member Tom Christiansen, Lutsen metal sculptor, said that the CEC found great value in the outside perspective Artspace brought to the feasibility study.
“The process of going through the study with Artspace,” he said, “has helped us greatly by clarifying what we should focus on now and what we should wait to tackle until things settle out a bit. For that and for a great many other valuable insights on our arts economy, we are grateful to Artspace.”
More on the Artspace project in Cook County, including a link to the final report, can be found on the EDA website, Prosperity North, at: prosperitynorth.com/arts__amp__culture_econom
Questions about the Artspace study or the work of the CEC may be directed to Mary Somnis, 218-387-3112 or director@prosperitynorth.com.
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