Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - As part of Grant and Crawford counties being named "Capital for the Day," Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton met with representatives of area arts initiatives and organizations, including members of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Office of Continuing Education. Lawton, chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board and a strong proponent of the arts as a catalyst for community and economic development, wanted to hear more about the state of the arts in Southwest Wisconsin.

"Lt. Governor Lawton has a genuine commitment to the arts, and has been an active spokesperson for the value of the work we have done through ArtsBuild, contributing to the economy and to the quality of life in our region," said Marian Maciej-Hiner, director of Continuing Education at UW-Platteville and board member for Arts Wisconsin. "It was gratifying to learn of her interest in hearing about our arts resources and assets, as well as our issues and concerns, during her visit to the area."

Meeting with the group in Ferryville, the location of the 2006 Crawford County Arts Festival, Lawton heard about success stories throughout Southwest Wisconsin. Heidi Dyas-McBeth, coordinator of ArtsBuild, recounted the accomplishments of this economic development program, carried out through the UWP Office of Continuing Education. In just two years, ArtsBuild has created a network of over 350 artists and creative entrepreneurs, published the full-color "ArtsBuild Directory of Artists of Southwest Wisconsin" featuring 175 artists, held 32 workshops, formed a 17-member regional committee, and facilitated SmART Community sessions in four locations attended by over 150 people. ArtsBuild has been ranked as the number one Top Rural Initiatives in 2006 by Wisconsin Rural Partners.

Next came success stories from Prairie du Chien. Margie Hylkema, project development officer, described the Mississippi River Sculpture Park, where 26 life-size bronze figures represent 12,000 years of area history. Spring Green's Florence Bird, the sculptor of the bronzes, was also in attendance. The second phase of the project will be a state-of-the-art interactive Interpretive Center, with exhibit and event space. Craig Moser, Main Street and Downtown Revitalization director, described a project in which histories of many of the city's historic downtown buildings are being researched. Informative displays for lobbies and storefront windows share the stories of these structures with an interested public. Craig also spoke of Prairie du Chien's Committee for the Performing Arts, which hosts cultural exchange groups from around the world.

Viroqua became the next focus. Paula Menn, President of the Associates of the Restored Temple Theatre (ARTT) told of the successful restoration of the 80-year-old Temple Theatre on Main Street. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the Temple is home to live performances enjoyed by local audiences. John Conlon, president of the Viroqua Fine Arts Association, described performances sponsored by VFAA, including piano, harp, violin, viola, and cello, and the educational outreach VFAA has brought to over 2,000 members of the community. Malkah Geller then described VIVA, a 15-member artists' cooperative which features the work of regional artists in beautiful surroundings on historic Main Street.

To wrap up the program, Eric Frydenlund of Community Development Alternatives described the Crawford County tourism website, which features area artists and artisans as area assets. He subsequently described the Crawford County Art Festival, which will be held in Ferryville on September 16-17. The festival drew 50 artists and 2,000 attendees in 2005, its inaugural year; this fall organizers hope to have 60 artists and 4,000 attendees.

Lieutenant Governor Lawton applauded each of these efforts, and pledged to continue to be a strong advocate for the arts in Wisconsin.

"The idea for one of Wisconsin's foremost rural economic development efforts germinated in the UWP Continuing Education Office, UW-Platteville, engaged the surrounding area and now stands to inform regional development across the state. Their unique wisdom: building a solid economic base on the arts and culture industry - a growing sector and a magnet for the talented workforce and the businesses that follow it," said Lawton.

She stated that her goal is to keep funding from being reduced for the arts and programs that support the arts. She, along with George Tzougros, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board, underscored their commitment to bringing resources to rural areas of the state. Additionally, she is meeting with the lieutenant governors of Illinois and Iowa, to discuss the joint promotion of cultural tourism in the tri-state area.

Contact: Marian Maciej-Hiner, UW-Platteville Office of Continuing Education, (608) 342-1302, maciejhm@uwplatt.edu Formatted by: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,martense@uwplatt.edu