Everyone was all talk Thursday at city hall, but that was a good thing, as Artspace representatives continued what they called a "great conversation" with community leaders on the potential for an Artspace development in Crookston.
The final meeting of the Artspace preliminary feasibility visit to Crookston took place Thursday, and the topic was on Crookston's level of civic leadership and financial clout, and is there enough of both to make Crookston an Artspace community.
Wendy Holmes, senior vice president for consulting and strategic partnerships, and Roy Close, director of resource development, as they had since their arrival, conducted Thursday's city hall session, which was followed by a wrap-up lunch at the Shanty and their departure from Crookston.
Artspace will next conduct a 50-mile survey, so artists from neighboring towns will be able to be made aware of the work/live spaces potentially developed in Crookston. Rents in Crookston are "attractive and low," Holmes said, adding that artists from the Twin Cities have been coming back to the area, mostly for family. The work/live art spaces have the potential to snag the hard to attract artists from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Holmes said.
Developing work/live art spaces could also boost tourism, Holmes said. "Projects become catalysts for art activity," she said. That could spur activities, like maybe a "Wine Walk," it was suggested.
But if it was easy, Artspace developments would be everywhere. Financing is an obvious hurdle, and Holmes said the smaller the town, the higher the hurdle. Some type of housing tax credits will have to be part of any package that's put together.
But with Crookston being home to many empty, under-utilized and historic buildings downtown, increased activity could spur building owners to develop their buildings, and they might even have the good problem of having to compete for tenants.
The conversation will continue, Holmes said, and the survey results will likely dictate which direction the talk turns to next.
