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Columbus Alive wrote
Can Columbus make its mark in indie art?
November 15, 2007
As the Dispatch reported on October 19, an Atlanta firm hired to research the demand for a new convention hotel in Downtown Columbus confirmed a fact that was already simmering among city leaders: Columbus needs to do a better job of marketing itself.
Experience Columbus CEO Paul Astleford described the current situation as “a complete lack of image in the national marketplace.”
A grassroots group of artists has come up with a unifying identity they believe the city can get behind, and a new slogan, “Columbus: Indie Art Capital of the World.”
Spearheading the effort is Mike Reed, web developer and member of the Couchfire artists’ collective, and Daniel Fox, proprietor of on-demand T-shirt marketplace Skreened. But as Reed stressed during a recent conversation, “It’s shaping up to be an everyone thing.”
Related Stories:
- Indie Art Capital of the World on WBNS-10TV
- Columbus is the Indie Art Capital of the World
I did say, we should expect criticism and to not be afraid of it, and that promoting such a thing may come at a price of personal embarrassment. But as for laying on a fire. no no no.
UNSAFE i say. UN. SAFE!
But we could stand near the fire and maybe toast some marshmallows?
Just a thought :)
eff this, man.
core, we need to get my ugly ass off any more news that might possibly be associated with this movement. any young ladies you can lend us to model for the cause?!
Is it wrong that I want Gilbert and George to model for it? Yes, yes it is.
I like shiny things.
I guess the media feels the need to connect the movement to the few individuals that helped mold the concept. However after 3 stories they seem to still have the desire to place all the weight on Dan and Mike. God bless the two guys for all their efforts, but in whole this is about the entire city of creatives and not simply something that’s shaping up into an us thing. It seems as if the writers of the stories don’t even realize that they are also part of this movement.
It’s less than a month into the movement and we’re already complaining about the nature of the coverage? Let us not be blasé about the fact that the movement is getting mentioned in the mainstream print media at all.
As far as the focus currently being on Dan and Mike –they deserve it, whether or not they would like to claim it –and it will remain there until one of the rest of us does something sufficiently newsworthy under the IAC banner.
As a matter of fact, I thought the article did a good job at stressing the fact that the movement has avoided naming “official” spokepersons in the interest of promoting inclusion.
Bottom line is, there’s going to have to be a very limited number of faces and voices at the forefront…and it really needs to be that way. It guarantees a consistent message, for one thing, and it makes the initiative accessible for media outlets…as opposed to “hey…go find one of those guys doing the Indie Art Thing…there’s like a thousand of them”
I think Dan and Mike are fantastic for this, myself.
What I am afraid of, and what I said to Daniel yesterday, is that they will not be able to be at every event, every show, and then what happens? Nobody comes to it because “those guys” aren’t there. Like it’s not sanctioned. So be careful with that.
Agreed and I’m not really complaining more so than wishing that everyone will realize that they too can make the same impact as dan and mike as well once they harness the inspiration. We have no leg to stand on if we think that 2 people can be the focus of a city based movement or handle the workload. trust me I have all the respect in the world for mike and dan and all of us working towards a common goal. It just seems as though the media is looking at this concept through a pinhole.
I think the coverage is always going to resemble something like this, just because it’s traditionally how news coverage works. Reporters make a few contacts, do a few interviews, get a few quotes, and the story writes itself.
Right now those main contacts are Daniel and Mike (their names were on the press release) so they’ve been tasked as cheerleaders for the movement, and I see nothing wrong with that. They’re both great about letting people know this is a very inclusive movement.
As time moves on, I’m sure we’ll have more points of contact and more cheerleaders who share in some of the media spotlight as well.
nothing wrong with press! :D
The thing about news stories is that journalists want to write them in the form of an actual story. So they’ll pick someone to play the protagonist (Daniel/Mike) who has a goal (IACOTW) and has to overcome obstacles (mediocrity). That way the news story becomes much more readable, not to mention easier to sell.
I’d seriously love it if there was a news story where they just went out and asked anyone and everyone what they’re doing with an artisan-level of care and attention… including Mike and Daniel. Onward!
Well, the reality is…thus far, Mike and Dan have sent out the press releases, created the website, created the wiki, scheduled/publicized/hosted the events, done the interviews, etc.
I’m quite sure if someone else takes up some initiative and starts doing something about the IAC movement, they’ll become the face for that portion of it.
I’m quite sure if someone else takes up some initiative and starts doing something about the IAC movement, they’ll become the face for that portion of it.
Core, would you be willing to be a “core-model” with your High Street hanging initiative? There may be national (most major) press on this soon(ish). EDIT (Well, at least there is real interest as in, “This is interesting!”) Here’s a quote from one of the writers I know, “Wow, Columbus is becoming known for something other than Buckeyes and malls?” (I love the Buckeyes, don’t take that the wrong way, I didn’t say it!). EDIT: I will make a list of everyone who are doing their thing too.
I noticed in the article they mention Austin being the “Music capital of the world.” There is a TV show on HDNet called “Austin City Limits” that showcases live music from Austin. Perhaps Columbus could get a production company to put together a TV show showcasing local artists. Maybe have it on a channel with national exposure that more people get. That would help with promoting the city and move the indie-arts thing along.
Right now those main contacts are Daniel and Mike (their names were on the press release) so they’ve been tasked as cheerleaders for the movement, and I see nothing wrong with that. They’re both great about letting people know this is a very inclusive movement.
As time moves on, I’m sure we’ll have more points of contact and more cheerleaders who share in some of the media spotlight as well.
Cheerleaders was a great term to use walker. Because with sports the game wouldn’t be anything with simply cheerleaders. The game needs Players, Coaches, and Referees as well to be a reality.
I’m not in any way knocking the press.
[url]http://www.wosu.org/television/local-programs/program-artzine/[/url]
[url]http://www.wosu.org/television/local-programs/program-artzine/[/url]
Good link, and btw, “Austin City Limits” was a PBS show from the 70′s itself…
FYI, other cities are going through this, but it’s guaranteed that no other city has a ground-up initiative like ours. Here’s a story from today’s Baltimore Sun:
———————————————————————————
Baltimore tries to break free of Rust Belt image
Baltimore left the Rust Belt behind years ago, but local economic development marketers think the metro area has yet to shed the reputation of a struggling manufacturing hub. They want to get out-of-town companies and locals to think of the Baltimore region as an equal of affluent Seattle, Denver and San Diego, rather than besieged Cleveland and Detroit, its historical peers.
“Often in the national media, we continue to be lumped in with what we were 30 years ago,” he said. “I think Baltimore for some time has suffered from something of a self-esteem or inferiority complex,” said Frisch, a member of the alliance’s board.
Click if you are interested: [url]http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.economic16nov16,0,5352201.story[/url][/b]
[url]http://www.wosu.org/television/local-programs/program-artzine/[/url]
Now they just need to move it to a national television channel that people outside Central Ohio have access to.