Community works to Milledgeville more art
Milledgeville MainStreet, local business owners, artists and GCSU students have come together to form an alliance that aims to bring more art to the Milledgeville community. The group is striving to make Milledgeville an arts destination, both for visitors and residents.
“We need more reasons for people to come to Milledgeville,” said Maryllis Wolfgang, owner of The Gallery at Crazy W Creations and chairperson of the Arts Destination Committee.
The group’s leaders see promotion of the arts as a boon to the faltering economy.
“It creates opportunities for entrepreneurs,” Wolfgang said. “When you’ve got business coming to town, it’s an economic advantage.”
Although some artistic storefronts have left the downtown scene, another gallery is moving into a vacant space formerly occupied by artist Jane Wyndham-Quin.
The members feel that the arts will bring life to Milledgeville. Some members have proposed filling the windows of empty stores with artwork.
“I’ve always looked at that building across the street and thought it would be an excellent place for studio space,” said Villane Waldhauer, owner of Villane’s Jewelry and Unique Accessories.
In addition to working on bringing more business to downtown Milledgeville, they also hope to garner interest for like-minded people to get together to enjoy the arts. A knitting group meets on Tuesday afternoons and a photography group is in its early stages.
“It’s more than just promoting artists in the community,” Wolfgang said. “It’s about making Milledgeville a community to relocate to.”
The group plans to begin promoting the highlight of its plans – the First Friday program, which is slated to begin in June. Some of the plans for First Friday nights are to hold art walks and have live music.
“It’s just one more thing to bring people downtown on Friday nights,” said executive director of Milledgeville MainStreet Belinda Washlesky.
GCSU students have become involved in the initiative through the business school. Students in one of Dr. Renee Fontenot’s marketing classes have opportunities for real-world experience by helping local artists and entrepreneurs develop business plans.
“I think (real world experience) is a necessity,” Fontenot said. “(The real world is) not nice and neat. It can be messy working with clients.”
Students are also gaining experience in working with the arts destination group to build a Web site as another effort to bring local artists together.
“It’s about as practical as it can get,” said senior management and marketing major Andrew Harris. “It’s been good to see what it’s like to interact with people.”
The group plans to hold a competition to design a logo for its association and will be voting on the logo at its next meeting at 9 a.m. on April 23 in the council chambers of City Hall.
Posted by Claire Kersey
on Apr 9 2010. Filed under News.
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