Angela and John Vachon talk about development of Kingsport's downtown area.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- An Arts Symposium was held Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at the Kingsport Renaissance Center. Highlights included the KingsportARTS.org Artist Registry, "to identify artists and for artists to identify communities."
The public was invited to browse displays by numerous arts-related organizations, including Arts Alliance Mountain Empire, publisher of A! Magazine for the Arts and Our Cultural Crossroads, a visitor's guide to our region. AAME's other projects include Bristol's annual Art in Public Places outdoor sculpture competition and Arts for Youth activities. Additional presentations will be offered by Symphony of Mountains, Kingsport Art Guild, Arts Council of Greater Kingsport, Kingsport Theatre Guild, The Gallery of Local Artists, and Christmas Connection, among others.
The Kingsport Public Art Committee held a press conference regarding proposals for Kingsport's Higher Education Center.
Sarah Pope reported on Kingsport's River Walk progress and Vision for the Future: A Place for Artists.
Betty Hurst presented a keynote presentation entitled "The HandMade in America Story: How a Creative Community Creates Economic Development." Hurst is the author of author of The Craft Heritage Trails of Western North Carolina and Director of Rural Entrepreneurship for HandMade in America, a non-profit organization promoting craft and culture for community and economic development in western North Carolina.
Breakout sessions included "Marketing for Musicians," "Owning an Art Gallery/Creating a Community" and "A Case Study on the River Arts District of Asheville, N.C."
Artists and art enthusiasts were then invited to take a tour of Kingsport's downtown arts venuesfollowed by additional breakout sessions for musicians and visual artists.
The event concluded with a tour of the State Theatre (opening March 6, 2009), with door prizes and food samples from restaurants and shops in downtown Kingsport.
