Meeting Will Focus on Promoting St. Croix Valley Arts

Featured speaker will share experience around building a strong, unique arts destination.

April 23, 2014

2 minute read

Via ArtReach St. Croix, a St. Croix 360 partner:

Navigate logo An event on May 8, 2014 will provide opportunities to learn about and discuss efforts to market the St. Croix Valley as an arts destination. Hosted by ArtReach St. Croix, Navigate will include a talk by a nationally-recognized arts leader, and guided roundtable discussions.

Artists, civic leaders, arts administrators, tourism professionals, and others interested in raising the visibility of the arts throughout the St. Croix Valley are encouraged to attend the free event. A happy hour afterward will let participants continue the conversation while enjoying live music from fiddler Brian Wicklund and guitarist Mike Cramer.

“We want to explore the possibilities of furthering our promotion of the St. Croix Valley as a destination for people interested in arts and culture,” says Heather Rutledge, executive director of ArtReach St. Croix. “Ideas and inspiration from a broad spectrum of people are critical to helping chart a course for the Valley being an even better place to make and experience art.”

The featured speaker will be Donna Neuwirth of the Wormfarm Institute in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. The Wormfarm Institute has led highly successful efforts to connect and promote relationships between culture and agriculture, receiving significant national attention and funding for its efforts.

“The products grown in an area reflect its unique geography, geology and microclimate,” says Neuwirth. “Likewise, arts and cultural products also reflect their unique local influences.”

To support strong, local culture, the Wormfarm Institute creates, sponsors and hosts exhibits, performances and other projects that engage the surrounding community, utilize the talents of local artists, and speak to rural experience.

Navigate is supported by a strategic advancement grant from ArtsLab, a program of Arts Midwest. Happy hour is hosted by Jami Flanagan and Foley Kalseim & Co Ltd.