seARTS Speaker Series presents
‘Gregory Jenkins, Executive Director of the Somerville Arts Council’
for a Conversation about Arts and Business Parnterships
The Society for the Encouragement of the Arts is pleased to announce that Gregory Jenkins, Executive Director of the Somerville Arts Council, will be our guest speaker on Wednesday, May 28, 6:30 – 9:00 pm at Cruiseport Gloucester.
Jenkins’s presentation on Somerville’s vibrant, nationally recognized arts scene will focus on the partnerships and projects Somerville artists and businesses have created to help their city thrive culturally and economically. Together, we’ll discuss what Cape Ann can learn from Somerville’s experience. We’ll explore how artists and businesses can collaborate on specific projects to further develop the creative economy in this community.
This event, the second in seARTS 2008 Speaker Series, builds on Mayor Carolyn Kirk’s recent participation in “The Creative Economy: Success Stories and Opportunities” at the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association. ‘I am very committed to fostering a strong creative economy in our community. There are very clear benefits that come from effective partnerships and strategies to build a strong creative sector at home, including attracting increased commerce and investment, and a providing our residents with vibrant cultural opportunities and a higher quality of life,” Kirk said (Gloucester Daily Times, May 7, 2008.) A Conversation About Arts and Business Partnerships also builds on the enthusiasm generated at seARTS’ Annual Meeting, in January 2008, where Mayor John Barrett of North Adams spoke of the role of the arts in his city’s economic turnaround and becoming a tourist destination.
Jenkins will discuss how Somerville’s businesses become involved in and benefit from the arts; how artists work effectively with local businesses; and how arts and business partnerships can thrive. We’ll learn about the Somerville Arts Council’s successes, as well as the challenges it faces.
Gregory Jenkins has been the Executive Director of the Somerville Arts Council since 2001. He spearheaded the highly successful cultural economic development initiative in Somerville’s Union Square. Jenkins professional experience includes arts education, public folklore, and community-based programming.
seARTS members, artists, businesses, civic leaders, and members of the Cape Ann community are invited to join this important conversation; we need your ideas, expertise, and energy.
seARTS’ Speaker Series is part of seARTS’ Community/Visitor Education Program funded in part by the John and Abigail Adams Art Program from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Holly C & Co., a Gloucester-based realty company, is the featured sponsor for A Conversation About Arts and Business Partnerships.
Future events in seARTS 2008 Education Series include: Speaker Series with Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) guest Artist in Residence, painter Sue Miller, for a slide talk at the Cape Ann Museum on Sunday, June 22 at 3:00 pm.; and artist and educator Susan Erony will continue her popular lectures and slide presentation on Cape Ann Art History in the fall This year’s lecture, in partnership with the Gloucester Committee for the Arts, will focus on the WPA murals. The next Artist Salon will feature singer/songwriters in July at the West End Theater.
A Conversation About Arts and Business Partnerships will be held Wednesday, May 28 at Cruiseport Gloucester, 6 Rowe Square; parking is available.
Join us for a reception from 6:30 – 7:30 pm followed by the program and conversation from 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Tickets are $5 for seARTS members; $10 for adults; and $7 for seniors and students. To purchase tickets online visit www.searts.org/programs.html or call (978) 281-1222.