The Back Track to Art

OK, so that’s probably not a very historically accurate quote. But I’m sure it’s what Jesse James would yell today if he were to come to Northfield while the festival named after him was going on.

That’s because I’m guessing Jesse James  probably wouldn’t much care to watch a reenactment of his defeat. Nor would he likely care much for Dippin’ Dots and deepfried brats. If Jesse James came to town today he’d probably pass his time looking at the lovely arts and crafts items on display down by the Cannon River at the Riverfront Fine Arts and Crafts Festival.

This Festival, a tradition in Northfield for more 40 years, will be held rain or shine, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, September 8 & 9, 2007.

More than 75 artists and fine craft artisans will show their work on the stone walkways hugging both sides of the Cannon River. Find wonderful photography, pottery, paintings, fiber art, jewelry and more by artists from all over Minnesota and the region.

“Get yourself down to the river!”

There has been over the past few years a great deal of discussion locally about whether or not, or to what degree, Northfield is an Art Town. Thus far, as I’ve been learning the ropes and coming up to speed, I’ve kept my own council on this issue.

Certainly, I can say, considering all the myriad art activities this town produces on any given sleepy summer afternoon, that we have–at the very least–the potential for Art Town-dom. If the sheer amount of arts programming–and the continued demand for ever more programming by local audiences–were the only criteria for such designation, then we’d be in like proverbial Flynn. However, if you discount the supply side of the equation, it turns out Northfield is generally missing an entire part of the Art Town equation.

Consider this story last week from the Eugene (Or.) Register-Guard as a case study. According to the reporter, last week “to the applause of arts supporters, the Eugene City Council took a first step Wednesday toward playing a larger role in the city’s arts and culture.” That is, Eugene, Oregon, made the practical decision to become, for all intents and purposes, an “Art Town.”

What does this mean in real terms? Well, to start the city council accepted a consultant’s report that was intended to drive city cultural planning for the next ten years. This all sounds familiar, I’m sure. We’re totally on the right trick, you’re probably thinking. Well, yes, but there’s more to this than the lip service of a consultant’s report.

The city of Eugene also determined, based on report recommendations, to play a broader practical (i.e., financial) role in arts and culture. The city was directed by the report to start an alliance for the arts, fund an endowment, and conduct a “thorough review” of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, partly to halt its operating losses (wouldn’t that be nice?). The report also calls for the city to take practical steps by contributing $100,000 a year to an arts endowment over 10 years that would provide an abiding way to fulfill community arts programming needs, as well as offering challenge grants to encourage private donations to the endowment. Finally, the reports suggests the city offer a onetime grant of between $15,000 and $50,000 to help start up the arts alliance that would help coordinate community arts activities.

Eugene, Oregon, seems to understand what it takes to support the diverse and complex artistic landscape that creates an Art Town. Perhaps someday so will we.