I wanted to share this letter from The Downtown Cultural Arts District Association:

Dear Cultural Arts supporter,

Thank you again for participating in one, or both of our public forums. This email is to update you on our progress so far.

Since the May 13th meeting with Robert McBride, we have been busy working on our Action Plan (to be presented in Covington June 25th) for the creation of a Maysville Cultural Arts District. We also met in Horse Cave on May 15th for a presentation by our counterpart committee, and a meeting with the Kentucky Arts Council. We will meet in Berea July 10th for their presentation. Our presentation will be in October.

The MISSION of the Maysville Cultural Arts District is to create, promote, enliven, and sustain a community awareness of the cultural arts, with opportunities for all.

VISION: Create a Maysville Cultural Arts District encompassing the geographical area from the Ohio River to the North, to Fourth Street to the South, to Limestone Creek to the East, and to Wall Street to the West;  while being mindful of the importance of the regional partnerships and opportunities for our success.

STRATEGIC GOALS:  Attract artists and cultural activities.  Preserve historic buildings and local history.  Promote new regional and local partnerships.

**We need your help**

In order for us to put the strategic plan in to action, we need to know our STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES and THREATS. Please help us by answering the following questions. Your input is invaluable. We cannot put together a comprehensive plan without your thoughts and ideas.

• What do you feel are the three most significant strengths of our district?
• What do you see as out three biggest weaknesses?
• What do you feel are our greatest opportunities, both now and in the next five years?
• What do you feel poses the greatest threats to the accomplishments of our set goals?

Let’s make sure the visual artists continue to be well represented in downtown Maysville’s development. Email your answers to Mike’s 4 questions by June 18^th to

mikethomas@maysvilleky.net

I will share my reply on this blog…once I get my thoughts together, and I encourage everyone else to do the same.

Sorry I’m late with a few reminders.

We are meeting today, June 1^st for the final meeting before art camp at 5pm the guild building. If you have not already volunteered to help, it’s not too late, this is going to be a lot of fun, and the more artists that participate, the richer experience we will be able to give the children. Come to the meeting!

Tomorrow, The Maysville Cultural Arts District Association is having an accessibility lecture/breakfast/workshop on June 2^nd at 8am at the Museum Center. As visual artists, we have been well represented at these meetings…there are a lot of exciting plans for the arts downtown, and I think we should continue to be a part of these plans…try to make it.

The Cynthiana Arts Council is having an art walk July 24, and 25^th. There is more information available at their website:

http://www.cynthianaartscouncil.org/ArtWalk.html

If anyone is interested…it might be a good show. They have a nice website. Maybe the guild would be interested in setting up as a group to promote our region/activities.

Happy Hour For Humanity is having an auction to benefit the UK children’s hospital. Artists can chose to spit the auction proceeds 50%-50% with the hospital or donate all proceeds to the hospital. This could be a good opportunity to get your artwork in front of a new audience…and make a little money. The time frame is short, but if you want to participate, contact:

Nathan Zamarron

859.255.2951

nzamarron@lexarts.org

Jacob Werline has opened a new antique store/gallery downtown on second street next to the Downtown Market Deli. He has offered space to any guild members. It looks like a good opportunity for our local artists to have their work represented in downtown Maysville. I would like to see him succeed with local artists, and I am going to take him some work today. Potters, he has shelves.

Here is his contact information:

606.301.3210

jacobwerline@yahoo.com

Finally, KET came to the museum center and filmed Marjorie’s exhibit for their program, “Kentucky Life”. They are planning to visit her home and do an interview. Doug Hendrickson has graciously given us the use of one of his windows on second street, where we have put a nice display of Marjorie’s work. It makes me smile everytime I walk by…it’s great what a difference art can make to our neighborhood. Now that Marjorie’s exhibit is down, we need to change our website’s homepage. If someone can give me an article with photos, I will put it up!