ULI Iowa Hosts Discussion On Fostering A Creative Community
WHAT: Intersection: Where Arts, Development, and a Vibrant City Converge
WHERE: Des Moines Social Club
WHEN: Thursday, June 5, 2014
5 – 7 p.m.
HOW: Register online, DSMpartnership.com/events
No charge to attend.
Urban Land Institute (ULI) Iowa is hosting a discussion on fostering a creative community to enhance the region’s vibrancy. The event, “Intersection: Where Arts, Development, and a Vibrant Community Converge,” will take place at the Des Moines Social Club on Thursday, June 5, 2014, between 5 – 7 p.m. Topics of discussion will include housing, graphic arts, performing arts/music, retail, food and infrastructure. Co-sponsors of the event include: Art Beacon; Des Moines Music Coalition; Des Moines Social Club; Faegre Baker Daniels, LLP; and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
“Art can be transformative. It is a catalyst for redevelopment and has the ability to remake cities one neighborhood at a time,” said Larry James Jr., Chair of ULI Iowa and a real estate lawyer at Faegre Baker Daniels, LLP. “We in the development community need to hear from our cities’ artists and musicians to learn what we can do to help build the art and music scene in Greater Des Moines. Furthermore, we owe it to the arts community to work on developments that are mutually beneficial to both artists and developers. The purpose of “Intersection” is bring together these two groups in order to make this happen.”
“Making sure as this town grows it continues to provide opportunities for artists to live, work and present is crucial if we want to not only attract but also keep artists here,” said Mickey Davis, Program Manager of the Des Moines Social Club. “Buzzwords like ‘vibrancy’ and ‘up and coming’ usually carry with them higher living costs, chain restaurants, and a lack of affordable studio space that squeezes out the people creating the exact things that make that place ‘cool.’ Change is coming faster and faster to Des Moines, and I hope this event helps create a dialogue between artists and creators and those with the power to support them as we grow.”
ULI Iowa, a recognized district council of the Urban Land Institute, was founded in May 2014 and is based in Greater Des Moines. ULI Iowa explores urbanization issues, land conservation, regeneration, land use, capital formation and sustainable development, all aimed at improving the quality of life for residents in the region and boosting economic prosperity.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute (uli.org) is a global nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.