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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2005)
A Downtown Vision .YLH[MVVK5PNO[SPML 7VVS;HISLZ ,]LU`V\YWHYLU[Z ^PSSSPRLP[ What’s next? An entire city block brimming with the arts? By Carolyn Kranzler ijX`^c [ ndjg <gVYjVi^dc D \]KSQV"^"MI\]X#\WMI\WZ LZQVSPMIZ\QTa DIVA’s building, owned by Connor & Woolley, is at a prime downtown corner at Broadway and Olive. TED TAYLOR IVA, the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts, began its efforts about three years ago to bring the visual arts into parity with the performing arts in the greater Eugene community. Its establishment at 110 W. Broadway in November 2003 has created a cultural com- munity center with classes, lectures, exhibi- tions, performances, and artists’ services. It has a growing multi-media and film program that has attracted and built a young audience. DIVA has received national recognition for these activities. As a purely bootstrap effort DIVA has been successful beyond the dreams of its founders. Our programs cur- rently bring 1,000 people a month through our doors and DIVA is progressing in its goal to become self-supporting. DIVA’s mission is to be a “catalyst for visual arts activities in downtown Eugene” and it has been effective in its mission. Collaborative efforts have been most suc- cessful and have put to rest the fears of many that our efforts would dilute, weaken or compete with existing arts organizations. We firmly believe that all arts activities strength- en the cultural life of our community. Downtown Eugene Inc. is working toward a marketing program to brand down- town as a regional arts center, and Robb Hankins, the director of cultural services for the City of Eugene, is promoting Eugene as “the World’s Greatest City for the Arts and the Outdoors.” Funding for support and sig- nage should be seriously considered from our city councilors and the Budget Committee for both these efforts. I’m writing, however, to speculate on what’s next. With the rumors and discussion of future change and development in down- town Eugene, I want to encourage us, as a community, to think of the next step and to be engaged in the decision-making. An arts facility such as DIVA has been included in the recent city of Eugene Downtown Plan. Of course there are no funds to provide such a facility at this time. Typically a capital campaign would be organized to raise funds, but perhaps there is another way. I’d like to propose exploration of other opportunities such as a public-pri- vate partnership. This is a strategy that has been successful in many other cities. Recognizing that typical retail develop- ment is not currently working in our down- town, can we forge a partnership to encour- age private commercial development to ;HRPUNYLZLY]H[PVUZMVY .YHK\H[PVUJLSLIYH[PVUZ +PUULY4:H[WTWT 3\UJO4-HTWT 3H[L5PNO[4LU\WTSH[L include a visual arts center? Can we find investors in this concept? Can we encourage our Planning Department to use its tools to leverage our progress and secure a perma- nent location for the visual arts downtown? I believe we can fill an entire city block with arts and related activities. Consider the possibility of a truly com- prehensive visual arts center and the activity it would create. Let’s bring together DIVA, Maude Kerns Art Center, the Eugene Glass School, the Lane Arts Council office and a sculpture and ceramics facility. Add class- rooms and exhibition spaces, a rental gallery, a small lecture and performance hall, an experimental/independent film theater, an art supplies store, and studio space for artists. A major component would be a large “art” film theater. Consider too a sculpture garden and room for storage and display of a regional art collection. Within the downtown we already have in place parking structures, a bus tran- sit center, and an arts resource library. It is time to begin serious discussions of possibilities, specific properties, investors, private developers and city of Eugene partic- ipation. I invite you to take the initiative and join DIVA to work for development that includes a visual arts center and an arts- active downtown. ■ 7LHYS:[YLL[ +V^U[V^U,\NLUL Carolyn Kranzler is an architect, arts advocate, past- president of City Club of Eugene and one of the founders of DIVA and a current member of its board. Sponsored by the UO Cultural Forum, Eugene Media Action (a committee of Eugene PeaceWorks), Eugene Weekly, Northwest Media Project, Speakers Clearinghouse and Justice Not War Coalition. For more information call 541-484-9167 MAY 19, 2005 13
