Regional art alliance makes progress

MARQUETTE — The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center hosted the second meeting of leaders within the U.P. art community to advance the creation of the Regional Art Alliance.

Twenty-five people gathered Tuesday in the community room at the Peter White Public Library for an all day session to discuss the launching of the alliance. An Arts Midwest representative facilitated for the group, leading discussion over the yearly goals the committee is hoping to accomplish.

One goal agreed upon was finalizing a structure in which the organization functions; the other was creating a cultural plan for the entirety of the U.P. By the end of the year, the group will have an official document outlining the goals as well as implementation strategies.

“I’m a firm believer that implementation only happens if the people who will implement the plan area actually involved in creating the plan,” said Arts Midwest Senior Program Director,” Sharon Rodning-Bash. “This is a tremendous group of people and they will implement the plan. I’m pretty confident, based on what I saw today, that there will be people with their name on every goal and objective, willing to help make it a reality.”

Several committees were formed in today’s meeting ranging from communications to technology to help develop the alliance further. Rodning-Bash added that arts and culture are essential in making a rural community vibrant.