RESULTS: 2008 Arts Convention was attended by 150 people representing 75 organizations of Las cruces & Mesilla Valley Arts Scene: an extremely talented and diverse group. Now we extend to Dona Ana County, to unite arts scenes throughout the region. How about a 1,000 people in 2009 who share stories, plan missions, and see how problems and obstacles were inter-connected. A new culture of between organization-cooperation began to emerge last year, and a deeper understanding of the economic issues facing the Arts Scene. Participants initiated 10 task forces that worked in cooperation with local leaders and organizations on Winterfest, the Museum Scavenger Hunt, marketing templates for small arts businesses and groups, and bringing people into the Arts & Culture Scene as customers, who had not been there before. The work is continuing as we set the groundwork for Arts Convention 2009.
Copy of Entire FINALReport pdf (takes a few moments to download 79 pages) May 7 2008 - version online that incorporates City Council, Dean of Business College, & several arts organization leader's feedback; WORD version of 79 page FINAL REPORT on Arts & Culture Alliance proposal (takes longer time to download)
Online version of written report 21 April 08 to City council meeting by David Boje at the Dec 8 2008 City Council Meeting of Las Cruces, Title: Las Cruces and Mesilla Valley Arts Scene Forgotten History: An Antenarrative Guide to Socioeconomic Growth David M. Boje, Ph.D. November 22, 2008 Version Dec 8 2008; edited Dec 15 2008
WHAT YOU CAN DO?: Please provide ideas for improving 'Arts Economy' of Las Cruces & Mesilla Valley. dboje@peaceaware.com TSI is an incubator for ideas, and we nurture and grow them until we find an entrepreneur or arts organization to champion them, and bring them into reality. Be part of Arts Convetion 09 in Sept.
FINAL 2008 EVENT 8 Dec (Mon) 1:00 to 1:45PM - David Boje and Joe Gladstone will present 30 minute slide presentation of results of the 8 task forces to Mayor, City Manager, Council Members, and Dept Heads in downtown Las Cruces City Council chambers. Students in 448/548 requested to provide 2 slides each indicating main obstacle, recommendation, and accomplishments of the task force. Joe and David will distribute mission, goals of task forces in separate document. Please have slides to Joe Gladstone by 1 Dec 2008 4PM.
8 Dec (Mon) 3:30-5:30PM-- FINAL 2008 MEETING in BC204 of ARTS CONVENTION TASK FORCES - this is where students present the 3 axes plus the history of their sector in Arts Scene, and TASK FORCE and INSTRUCTOR assign FINAL GRADES. This is where we find out which 448/548 students succeeded in consultation, ingetting their clients and task forces to use the 6 SEAM tools. Each student task force required to have at least one community task force member in attendance. Presentations are 10 to 12 minutes each. Slides permited with usb stick (no more than 5 slides per presentation; no more than 30 words per slide - images appreciated).
What has Arts Convention Done? The 1st annual Arts Convention of Las Cruces and Mesilla Valley is wrapping up their event on Sept 22. Faculty and students of the Business College are working with local artists and arts organization members to do work on task forces between Sept and Dec 8th. To date the Arts Convention participants formed 10 task forces, each one of them developed mission statements, and set three goals to accomplish by Dec 8. The key theme of the Convention has been how to improve the arts economy so artists in the visual, performing, and literary arts make more money. The Mayors of Mesilla and Las Cruces, as well as many arts organization leaders (such as Heather Pollard of DAAC, Greg Fant Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences, ...Cindi Fargo of Downtown Las Cruces, Lori Grumet the Director of City of Las Cruces Public Services, Wayne Crawford and Dick Thomas for the literary arts, Steve Fishmann & Leonard Rawson, and many more) have addressed the Convention. Ways artists and arts organizations can market events has been a key concern to delegates. Ed Breeding, a local filmographer premiered his new film, "Heart of the Arts." The documentary film allows people to discover the magnificent and diverse artist's works in Mesilla Valley.
GUEST AND ACTIONS OF 2008 1st ARTS CONVENTION of LAS CRUCES & MESILLA VALLEY
Sep 8 2008 - 4 to 8 PM in Dona Ana Room, Corbett Center.
100 name tages were taken up by delegates, faculty, and students. Opening remarks by David Boje (co-founder of Talking Stick Institute) about the agenda for the event, and why ARTS CONVENTION is an important STORYTELLING ORGANIZATION (see blog for remarks), followed by Native American Business Student Association (hosts of the event, Joe Gladstone), Virginia Maria Romero and David Tobey (Talking Stick Institute board member & co-founder).
David Boje, Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences Greg Fant, & Virginia Maria Romero (TSI Board Member)
Welcomes (4 minutes each) were heard from Grag Fant (Associate Dean College of Arts & Sciences, NMSU) spoke of the importance of the Bond issue of the Arts Center to the community.
Cindi Fargo Lori Grumet & Lawrence Joy
Cindi Fargo of Downtown MainStreet told us there are more artists per capita in New Mexico than any other state (click for remarks), Lawrence Joy (Consultant to many in the Arts Scene) spoke on how to market Las Cruces as an arts destination, and Lori Grumet (Director of Public Services, City of Las Cruces) spoke on the importance of arts and culture to the City.
Several welcomers had to reschedule for illness or deaths in their family: Mark Medoff (Internationally known playwright), Sharon Shultz (NM Tourism Association), and Catherine Smith Brenner (owner of Unsettled Gallery of Mesquite & in-coming president of ArtForms. We hope to see them on the 15th or 22nd in good health.
There was a primere showing of the 26 minute documentary film on local artists, called "Heart of the Arts" by Ed Breeding. "Heart of the Arts"
documentary film by Ed Breeding was shown on Sep 8 2008.
Heart of the Arts - Virginia Maria Romero
In this clip we showcase the artwork of Virginia Maria Romero in the Las Cruces art documentary Heart of the Arts. Enlightenment Productions founder and director Ed Breeding teamed with up-and-coming filmmaker Luis E. Cruz to create a documentary which promotes Las Cruces, NM, as an art destination. Ed is seeking sponsors for the 26 minute film.
Left to Right: Ed Breeding, Carol Lopez, Rosie Jones, Virginia Maria Lopez, Rosie Jones, Jan Kosnick, Susan Frary, & Olin S. Calk
The artists in the film: Tony Pennock (Piated murals & tiles, Clay Schoothauer (Sculptor), Rosie Jones (Weaver), Jan Kosnick (TAained Glass), Virginia Maria Romero (Retablos(, Carol Lopez (Encaustic - Melted Bee's Wax), Yolanda Martinez (Singer/drummer), Susan Frary (Metal Work), Antonio (Perez (Repujadol - molded aluminum over wood), and Olin S. Calk (sculptor of the gigantic Road Runner statue on West side of Las Cruces.
Following the films pictures of the artists attending who were in the film were taken. Then welcome remarks, read for Sharon Shultz (NM Tourism Association, who had a death in her family) were read by David Boje (see Blog posting for those remarks).
Steve Fishmann & Leonard Rawson
This was followed by Steve Fischmann (NM Senate District 37 candidate), and Senator Leonard Lee Rawson, who talked about what State Senators can do to put the Las Cruces and Mesilla Valley Arts Scene on the map.
The rest of the evening people attending will divide into 10 task forces (economic development, media, government, visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, gallery owners, art buyers, etc); their task was to share stories of the arts scene, then come up with a mission for their task force to achieve by Dec 8th 2008.
Mayor Kenneth Miyagishima
Mayor Kenneth Miyagishima kicked this portion off with encouragement to the participants in the ARTS CONVENTION, thanking them for doing something to make Las Cruces a nationally recognized Arts Scene.
David Tobey facilitated the mission statement work, using a card sorting brainstorming technique. At the end of the evening the Task Forces student facilitators spoke out their missions to Terrence Moore (CIty Manager of Las Cruces).
Sep 15 - 4:30 to 8 PM in Colfax Room, Corbett Center (NMSU)
4:00-4:30 Student and Faculty process rehearsal led by Boje & Gladstone see slide show
Virginia Maria Romero, David Boje (Board members of Talking Stick Institute tell founding story of the Talking Stick Institute), Don Peopion of NMSU Anthropology Dept is to their right.
4:30 - 5: 00 PM -- Delegates seated for Welcome remarks to Arts Convention (4 minutes each) Co-fcilitators David Boje, David Tobey & Joe Gladstone
David Boje set the questions for the 2nd session of Arts Convention. "How do we market Las Cruces artists, so they make more money, and benefit Las Cruces and Mesilla Valey arts economy?" He did a storytelling about Blacksmiths and State Funding -- See 15 Sep Blog post for the story
Michael Cadena (Mesilla Mayor) will speak on what the Town of Mesilla has done
Dick Thomas (co-editor Sin Fronteras/Writers without Borders Journal) will speak on imporance of Literary Arts in Las Cruces
Wayne Crawford (member of Dona Ana Arts Council board, writer & co-editor of Sin Fronteras/Writers without Borders Journal, host of Las Cruces Writers Listserve, new project readings at Rio Grande Theatre, & online journal Lunarosity)
Edmundo Resendez, General Sales Manager, KVLC-FM/KXPZ-FM/KMVR-FM/KOBE-AM spoke about how the arts community can do public service announcements on the radio to bring people to the events.
Scotty at Las Cruces 360 spoke about how LC 360 can adopt Talking Stick Institute databases (Artist Registeries, Arts Service Organizaitons &Galleries/Museums) so these become national & international marketing tools for the Arts Scene
Don Pepion of NMSU Anthropology Dept spoke about the upcoming Rio Grande Pow Wow
Phillip Hernandez (New Dimensions Art, a student gallery) spoke on what student artists mean for the Arts Scene
8 task forces worked hard to develop 3 goals to accomplish by Dec 8th 2008.
5:00-6:00 First process is Storytelling Circles using the Talking Stick in order to set the historical and future context for developing 3 goals (Priority Action Plans) for tasks forces to accomplish by Dec 8 (date of student's final). Student facilitators will record notes on possible Goals (& sub-objectives, and who does what when) coming out of the storytelling. Please use this blank PAP tool #2 template
BREAK
6:15-6:30PM - Las Cruces Councilwoman Sharon Thomas & co-facilitator David Boje listened togoals being reported out by each of the task forces.
6:30-8PM - Third process is the PRISMA. The 3 Goals are listed across top of worksheet for each task force (see blank PRISMA worksheet).
The idea is to figure out what level the goals are at now, and how to move accomplishment to a higher level between Sept and Dec 2008. These are the 6 PRISMA levels:
Premier - Level 6 - The best possible - Leading by example
Robust - Level 5 - Substantial progress Raising the bar
Satisfactory - Level 3 - Historical level - Bare minimum
Moot - Level 2 - Declining/undesirable - Of debatable value
Absent - Level 1 - Vacuous - Damaging to self and others
HOMEWORK: Students in each task force will turn the 3 goals ideas, and the PRISMA Charting into Priority Action Plans(PAP). PAP Goals cover period from Sept to Dec 8th 2008. Student facilitators use notes from the evening processes to refine sub-objectives to reach goals, list who in Arts Scene is concerned in implementation of goals & sub-objectives, and chart month-by-month when the people responsible with do what, between Sept & Dec.
FINAL SESSION OF ARTS CONVENTION: Sep 22 - 4:30 to 8 PM in Dona Ana Room of Corbett Center.
David Boje & Virginia Romero welcome delegates and students to Sep 22nd session of Arts Convention
David Boje addresses the Arts Convention with this evenings challenge: how to unite Arts and Business. See Blog for the complete text of the talk Please post comment In 2nd photo standing with the sports jacket is Joe Gladstone, who is co-facilitating this session with Boje.
Dean of the Business College Garrey Caruthers gives a welcome address to the Arts Convention
Pamela Jansma (Dean of Arts & Sciences College of NMSU) gives welcome address to Arts Convention. Dean Jansma is wearing a button to support Bond D inin the Nov 4 2008 election (finances first phase of Arts Center at NMSU).
Both Deans talk about the importance of Arts students getting Business courses in their education (example, Music majors are taking business courses to improve their earnings when they graduate).
Jim Berry & Bill Mattiace of Greater Chamber of Commerce address the Arts Convention. They stress the role the Chamber is already playing in addressing the arts industry in Las Cruces
Bill Mattiace holds up a NY Times issue about the current financial debacle. The Arts Industry in Las Cruces & Mesilla Valley is an important source of jobs and revenues.
Chris Favre of the Las Cruces convention Center and Visitor's Bueau speaks about the new brochure the city has developed about the arts and culture of this area. Several years ago he worked with City of Artists Promotion Association to put out a galleries guide. The new guide includes more of the arts organizations, and the events going on.
Roy Van der Aa (publisher of Ink Magazine, that exclusively covers the arts, quick history) gives a history of the paper, storying the kinds of struggles it has gone thorugh, as transportation costs have risen. Roy is holding up a copy of the Ink, to show the difference in quality of the publication, over the years.
Asher is all about Hip Hop. He is appealing to students to be more involved in the Arts Scene, and for the Scene to have more spaces for kinds of art that appeals to the youth of the area.
Boje invites representatives of local arts organizations to come forward and speak about how to work together.
They grasp the Talking Stick in a symbolic ritual of unity: "all for one, one for all the Arts Scene." --- From left to right are Loni Todoroki (Storytellers of Las Cruces); Jan Addy (President of New Mexico Watercolor Society - Southern New Mexico Chapter); Catherine Smith Brenner (President of ArtForms); Judy Licht (Director of Las Cruces Arts Association); Susan Frary (Markeintg Committee Chair, of City of Artists Promotion Association), & John Northcutt (Potter's Guild).
Loni Todorok emphasizes that Storytellers of Las Cruces is now 82 years old, and lays claim to be the oldest Arts Organization in Las Cruces.
Judy Licht tells the audience how the Las Cruces Arts Association was founded in 1962, making it the oldest organiztion in Las Cruces & Mesilla to serve the needs and interests of visual artists.
Jan Addy is next up. The Watercolor Society has been around for a good many years.
Catherine Brenner Smith talks about ArtForms (founded 1999), and the importance of Love of Arts Month to the economy of Las Cruces.
John Northcutt of Potter's Guild is not sure how old the Guild is, but think he fits about here in the history.
Susan Frary of City of Artists Promotion Association (founded 2006) says they are one of the newer arts organizations in the local Arts Scene. They are working to put on exhibits at Home Builders, Farm & Ranch, and Southwest Environmental Center.
The Task Forces work on developing action plans and measurable success indicators.
There are certificates given out to task force members and to Business students, who participated in this years Arts Convention.
FINAL EVENT
8 Dec (Mon) 1:00 to 1:45PM - David Boje and Joe Gladstone will present 30 minute slide presentation of results of the 8 task forces to Mayor, City Manager, Council Members, and Dept Heads in downtown Las Cruces City Council chambers. Students in 448/548 requested to provide 2 slides each indicating main obstacle, recommendation, and accomplishments of the task force. Joe and David will distribute mission, goals of task forces in separate document. Please have slides to Joe Gladstone by 1 Dec 2008 4PM.
8 Dec (Mon) 3:30-5:30PM-- FINAL MEETING in BC204 of ARTS CONVENTION TASK FORCES - this is where students present the 3 axes plus the history of their sector in Arts Scene, and TASK FORCE and INSTRUCTOR assign FINAL GRADES. This is where we find out which 448/548 students succeeded in consultation, ingetting their clients and task forces to use the 6 SEAM tools. Each student task force required to have at least one community task force member in attendance. Presentations are 10 to 12 minutes each. Slides permited with usb stick (no more than 5 slides per presentation; no more than 30 words per slide - images appreciated).
The 2008 1st ARTS CONVENTION of Las Cruces and Mesilla Valley grew out of earlier Talking Stick Institute initiateves. For example in Oct and Nov 2008, TSI worked with the local arts community, passing the Talking Stick to weave some dream stories together. Our of this came many ideas which students of the Business College recorded in their notebooks. One idea was to get 100 leaders of the Arts Scene together in 2008 for an Arts Convention.
Photo of Talking Stick in Action in Las Cruces Arts Scene 2007
Talking Stick Institute is a non-profit initiative of David Boje and David Tobey. This example is our pro bono service to the community of artists
The Las Cruces Arts & Culture Scene brings together experience and expertise in economic development and marketing to market the City of Las Cruces as a place to buy art and enjoy performances. The Scene will be inclusive of all the arts, including the painting/visual arts as well as literary, musical and performance arts. The aim is to be an ‘idea incubator’ that will help every arts organization.
MISSION: Las Cruces Arts & Culture Scene is evolving to bring Arts Service Organizations & Galleries together with stakeholders (City + Education + Chambers of Commerce) to market City & Region as an Arts & Culture Destination. Our Mission is to lure art buyers to Las Cruces
VISION: Las Cruces Arts & Culture Sceneis building a ½ billion-dollar arts industry, and becming one of the top 25 arts destinations in the US within five years.
Talking Stick Institute Board members, Ruth Drayer, Virginia Maria Romero, and David Boje are now working together on the Las Cruces Arts & Culture Alliance proposal. Virginia Maria Romero asks that the process begun by the Arrowhead Center in 2007 continue. Local Artist Ruth Drayer asks that the process begun by the Small Business Consulting classes of the Business College continue.
New Mexico has a major arts scene, with 3 cities in the top 25 arts destinations in America according to American Style Magazine: Albuquerque is #7 in top 25 big cities; Santa Fe is #1 and Taos #5 in the Smallest 25 cities category. When Las Cruces is recognized by the State of New Mexico - Department of Cultural Affairs for the outstanding Arts Destination it has become, then Las Cruces has a good chance of making the list. All we have to do is show the world that we have more galleries, artist, and arts service organizations than Portsmouth (#25 on the Small Cities - under 100,000 in population. Portsmouth has 6 galleries - Las Cruces has 44 galleries and museums. There are differences: ART-SPEAK IS THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH'S CULTURAL COMMISSION. Currently Las Cruces does not have an Arts & Culture Commission. We therefore propose the Arts Alliance.
Co-fcilitators David Boje, David Tobey & Joe Gladstone
Student facilitators will record notes on possible Goals (& sub-objectives, and who does what when) coming out of the storytelling. Please use this 
The idea is to figure out what level the goals are at now, and how to move accomplishment to a higher level between Sept and Dec 2008. These are the 6 PRISMA levels:
