Reconceptualizing Place - The Struggle in Revisioning Downtown
Back on May 14, the symposium Urban Mediations took place at Artcite. It was a fantastic, day-long forum with some well-respected speakers (including Steven Logan from Carbusters magazine) on the agenda.
I didn’t have much space left in my audio recorder, so I chose to record Windsor’s own Veronika Mogyorody and her presentation. It is here for you in its entirety (click the image to view, or watch it here), along with the Power Point presentation that accompanied her talk.
Many thanks to Prof. Mogyorody for sharing her presentation with us. I would like everyone to pay particular attention to the section on “Asset Mapping”, which is something that I think must be undertaken here in Windsor as soon as possible
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That was a very good presentation. I agree with the Professor that once it it given completely to council the voice of the arts would be lost. Just look at the timetable already and they are a year behind at only stage 2.
I was also glad she included skilled trades as that of the creative community because I believe that having tangible goods is an integral part of our economy. Musicians, painters, actors etc. cannot exist if there are not enough decent paying jobs for others. IMO, they are linked whether they like it or not. Which is why I find so many “blue” collar workers in this city who do not support the arts or do not want a few of their tax dollars to go towards arts programs so frustrating. Not only do the arts diversify our economy but they give us the very culture our cities need to define themselves.
I thought the DWBIA did map out a section of downtown as the “arts district”. Were the various arts organizations approached and agreed with this district? Does anyone know?
As I couldn’t make it to that symposium I am glad Chris posted one of the presentations. Thanks.
There is a representative from the Art Gallery on the DWBIA marketing committee that approved the Arts District. Many arts organizations were at the presentations and there has been no objection.
I’m proud to say that the DWBIA has been very supportive of the arts giving several thousand to the Art Gallery last year for public art created in each district. The DWBIA also contributed towards the Armories feasibility study.
If the DWBIA could stop paying for infrastructure and development programs that I believe should be paid for by the city, they would have the ability to contribute far more to the arts.
Its a catch 22, we pay for beautification and development business recruitment grants but have no money to market and promote these very programs. $10-15000 facade grant if you locate downtown isn’t too bad and you can witness the great results
Pelissier dentist office, coffee exchange are just a few examples of some facade improvements that improve the areas
Considering that the district we mapped out covers the Capital, Artcite, Art Gallery, Chrysler Theater. (Armories lies barely outside but can always be “cheated in” on a map)
Its a natural district, which is a prerequisite for districting
I find one of the biggest challenges for the artistic community in Windsor and venues that host their shows, concerts, etc. is marketing. So many times I’ve been forced to go to Chattam to see some of the bands touring accross Canada that I like. Just the other day I went to London to see a show that had stops all over the country in cities much smaller than Windsor (Guelph, Chattam, etc.). I felt dissapointed that my city wasn’t on the map and this happens way too often.
Overshadowed by american media, we need to find creative and effective ways for talent to promote itself within our own market. Does anyone have any bright ideas or input regarding this?
to clarify my previous message (I’m a bit tired still), I feel we are overlooked as a destination for concerts to come to many times because we lack the marketing infrastructure to promote our city’s own events effectively over the massive amount of American media we are saturated in.
Great observation Tim.
I think part of the problem is Windsor is in a state of flux. We’ve lost our identity and thus we don’t know what we want to communicate and how to market ourselves. The first step is to identify what we want our city to be.
Then we can develop an integrated marketing communications strategy; where an integrated marketing communications strategy is a holistic approach to marketing that aims to ensure consistency of message and the complementary use of media.
Hi Tim,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I wanted to address your question directly on how Windsor can attract stops on national/internationl music tours, because I think it is a very good one, and might have a relatively simple answer. My suggestion: someone in the know needs to get on the phone and ask these music acts (their booking agents) to stop here.
While I am not at all connected to the music industry, I do know a few people in the world of sport. A number of months ago I read a story about the Harlem Globetrotters in Sports Illustrated, which in passing mentioned their standard practice for booking tours: weekend games at large arenas (10000+) and mid-week games at smaller venues (5000 - 10000). With our just-finished WFCU Centre (yes, it should have been downtown), I figured a quick email to the VP was worth the short time it took to talk-up our city and our resume for hosting or co-hosting other sporting events recently. The last I’ve heard now, they are planning a Windsor stop on their tour next season.
So, my suggestion is that some of the many very well-connected music industry people in our city make a few phone calls and send a few emails to help promote Windsor as a stop on these tours. A little elbow grease could go a long way, as sometimes the folks responsible for booking just need the right venue and city, and good salability (which we have with one of the largest music markets in the US right on our doorstep).
Carrying further on that, could it not also be that the same protocol for booking travelling art or history exhibits exists, and that someone connected in the art/museum curator world could help draw a stop on a major tour?
I am hoping to have the Body Worlds exhibit stop here in Windsor also, but my communication with the exhibit offices keeps hitting a snag. How great would that be for downtown? The show will be in Toronto soon, and the last time it was in Canada (Edmonton), it drew 270,000 attendees in 4 months! It is considered the world’s most successful travelling exhibition.
The execs and producers at our radio stations, or still-connected music acts like Jeff Burrows (who already does a ton for our city and for other volunteer causes), should heed that call to make Windsor the music destination it once was! Our music halls and dinner clubs hosted world-class acts right up until the late 60s.
On a similar front, Tom Lucier is always asking Phog patrons if anyone has a place for their bands to crash for the night. Wouldn’t it make it a great night in Windsor if we had a band-hostel for these underpaid and overworked artists to crash at?
Thanks for posting Veronika’s presentation. Bang on.
Thanks Mark for the info. That is good news that the arts community was involved. Now if we can get the city to pay for the infrastructure so the DWBIA can promote itself to the fullest…if only.
Tim, we are in the highest density for venues in all of N. America while London is serviced by no one. Plus, unfortunately for smaller bands/shows Windsor hasn’t really embraced them but a few. Too bad because there are so many great ones locally and throughout Canada.
We need to change the mindset and let people realize that quallity of life is so much more important than working on the line for 50+ hours a week. But with the downturn in the economy people might be realizing this themselves now.
VenetianDave signing off
How do we hear about these events if we are not Phog regulars?
Vicky is making me out to have a drinking problem
Believe it or - I don’t find out about these things from Phog often. I will do my best and give everyone as much notice as possible (I think I gave everyone two days notice on this event) in the future.
But you do need to keep in more regular touch with us, Vicky
Victoria Rose, I get a lot of my info about the community either through Scaledown or Face Book