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Articles - 2007

Arts Council in partnerships to promote Mendocino County

There is an admirable inclination in Mendocino County for diverse groups to develop successful partnerships. They work in harmony to complete successful projects that benefit the entire community. A recent example is the work the Arts Council of Mendocino County does to listen to the community and work with other organizations to achieve far more than any of them could by working independently.

The Arts Council held their annual Mendocino County Arts Summit at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah on April 20, 2007. More than 70 people attended, nearly half of them artists. The others mostly represented various nonprofits organizations from throughout the county including almost every Mendocino County non-profit arts organization, the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, College of the Redwoods, Mendocino Area Parks Association, MCTV, and KZYX/Z. They congregated to brainstorm ideas and develop plans for promoting the arts in Mendocino County. They learned about the new partnerships between the Arts Council, the Mendocino County Lodging Association (MCLA), and the Mendocino County Promotional Alliance (MCPA), which provides the GoMendo.com website.

The Arts Council will develop and design an arts module for the newly redesigned GoMendo.com site. It will include a monthly arts events calendar for Mendocino County. The “M” for Mendocino County graphic that is part of the new branding for promoting the county is now a part of the Arts Council logo. This partnership will include working with other organizations that are part of MCPA to promote the county. This will include the wine, lodging, and dining industries as well as attractions, chambers of commerce, and government organizations.

Part of why the Arts Council continues to grow and succeed is that it adapts to public sentiment, gaining new input at the Summit each year. There is also a great awareness that the arts are becoming more important to tourism in the region. It is well documented that travelers who include cultural or historic aspects in their trip stay longer and spend more money. Where could anyone go for more historic and cultural arts attractions than Mendocino County? Let’s declare ourselves the winners and stay home – to welcome visitors.

Among the ideas from the Summit that are now under development is a plan for monthly an Arts Weekend throughout the county, which is consistent with the Arts Council’s mandate to support and promote the arts.

Arts Council board members Danielle Hurt and Jay Gordon (foreground), and a full house at the 2007 Mendocino County Arts Summit

Arts Council Executive Director Anna Kvinsland answers questions from the audience at the 2007 Mendocino County Arts Summit

The new Arts Council "M" logo

The break-out sessions led to research to learn the feasibility of online translation of the website to other languages and more youth-friendly content for the site.

The Arts Council is now exploring opportunities for streamlining and standardizing open studio tours and other arts events. Members of the brainstorming sessions also identified a need for grant-writing training and research. Another topic enthusiastically discussed was working with government organizations and realtors to explore conversion of derelict buildings for at least partial use as live-work space for artists.There was also interest in places for retreats and seminars that nurture and train artists and nonprofit volunteers.

There is also a need for more professionally printed material advertising galleries and theaters, perhaps including suggested driving itineraries. Another topic was getting art into more settings, such as restaurants, hotels, and public buildings. They shared ideas for more creatively promoting Mendocino County on the multitude of travel websites.

One of the simplest ways to become involved with the arts community of Mendocino County is by joining the Arts Council, which costs as little as $15 for students and seniors and $25 for artists. For further information, call the Arts Council at (707) 961-5449 or e-mail director@artsmendocino.org.

Click on links below for detailed notes from the regional break-out sessions that will more fully explain the recommendations from the Summit.

Ukiah and Anderson Valley Group

Willits and Covelo Group

North and South Coast Group

Click here to download a summit agenda

The 2007 Mendocino County Arts Summit was sponsored by the Arts Council of Mendocino County and hosted by the Grace Hudson Museum. Arts Summit partners included the Mendocino County Lodging Association, the Mendocino County Promotional Alliance, the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, and David Wayne Floyd.