Art for Economic Development in Rural Communities

The most recent of funding for Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) design workshops includes an example of an arts center in Maine.

1 minute read

October 28, 2019, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Maureen Milliken reports on the recent designation of the Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, Maine to the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD).

The CIRD is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council and buildingcommunityWORKSHOP, and local leaders hope to parlay the recognition for the Snow Pond Center for the Arts into a larger, collaborative economic development foundation for Kennebec County.

The article quotes John Wiggin, executive director of Snow Pond, in explaining the significance of the recognition and the potential of the arts center in the local economy: "Education, the arts and culture are the primary drivers of economic development, and when looked at historically across the U.S., rural communities that are vibrant, growing, dynamic have that common theme."

Snow Pond Center was one of 23 designees nationwide, as announced in September.

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