The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, together with the Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies, and other key sponsors is hosting six onsite, project-based cultural economic learning exchanges in six locations throughout Michigan beginning June 8, 2004 in Detroit.

"These interactive sessions will help participants explore firsthand how arts and culture is a driving force in creating vibrant economically thriving communities," said David C. Hollister, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Director.

These exchanges are part of Michigan's overall Cool Cities effort and feature an oral case study of the featured project, success strategies for developing these types of projects and concrete examples of partnership models.

The Cultural Economic Learning Exchanges will be held:

Tuesday, June 8 Detroit

9 am - noon

    Midtown Arts Center Development

    College for Creative Studies

    200 E. Kirby, Detroit

2 - 5 pm

4731 Gallery

4731 Grand River, Detroit

Thursday, June 10

Port Huron

1 - 4 pm

    Riverside Relics Art Incubator

    Citizens First M-Tech Bldg.

    735 Erie St. (Corner of Erie and Glenwood),  

    Port Huron

    On the campus of St. Clair Community College

Monday, June 14

Grand Rapids

9 am - noon

    Avenue for the Arts Project

    Meet at Urban Institute for Contemporary Art (UICA)
   41 Sheldon, SE, Grand Rapids

Tuesday, June 15

Marquette

1 - 4 pm

    Arts & Cultural Center

    (Located in the Peter White Library)

    217 N. Front St., Marquette

Tuesday, June 22

St. Joseph & Benton Harbor

9 am - noon

    The Box Factory

    1101 Broad Street, St. Joseph

2 - 5 pm

       Xroads

    Best Value Hotel
   2860 M139, Benton Harbor

Wednesday, June 23

Jackson & Lansing

9 am - noon

    Armory Arts Project

     634 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson

2 - 5 pm

    Rendezvous on the Grand

    226 E. Grand River, Lansing

The sessions are designed to promote team learning.   Communities are encouraged to attend as teams with a good cross section of people from local government, downtown development authorities, chambers of commerce, the arts and cultural community and others interested in viewing model projects promoting cultural economic development.   Learn more about the program and register online at www.macaa.comor call 800/203-9633 for more information.   The cost is $60 for a whole day exchange session and $40 for a half-day exchange session.

Attendees will learn how to develop partnerships between local cultural and economic development interests; and successfully implement cultural economic development projects such as mixed use developments including affordable living and/or working space for artists, public art programs, strategic historic preservation efforts, and more.

Other sponsors include the Michigan Department of History, Arts & Libraries, the Michigan Economic Development Agency, ArtServe Michigan, and the Michigan Downtown and Financing Association.

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth releases.

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