This subject always reminds me of the tale, "The Pied Piper of Hamlin".
Artists have become an "urban amenity" useful for fixing up declining neighborhoods and vacant factories... after they make the place hip,safe,fun and habitable for the gentry, they usually get a not too subtle hint to move on when the rents go sky high....They might be able to afford to stay if we could earn a decent living. The Star Tribune article made it sound like the only way cities like Minneapolis and Saint Paul could help artists make a living here is by dispensing grants. The City could also ask Minneapolis businesses that used to hire local artists to resume the practice....for instance: We have how many actors and theater groups? Why is there so few locally produced commercial television shows? Would it be impossible to produce a daytime soap opera here? How about locally produced commercial childrens show? We have tons of good local musicians...how many of them do you hear on the commercial radio stations? Look at the comics in the Strib, City Pages and the PressPatch....how many local cartoonists? Would Charlie Schultz have a chance to get "Little Folks"published in his hometown today? How many other publishers use clip art instead of hiring local illustrators? Stock photos instead of local photographers? How many offices hang prints instead originals by Minneapolis artists? Another problem for artists here is a provincial attitude that nothing local could be as good as something Bi-Coastal or European....An art director at one of the major magazines in town once told me he prefered to hire "award-winning illustrators from New York". The City could do a better job promoting a commercial , not just a charitable partnership between local business and local artists. Here's an idea.... a Mayor's award for Minneapolis businesses that hired and promoted local artists. Ken Avidor Kingfield _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
