Revising Anderson

 I came up with these 12 years ago. They started as a lark. 

Once upon a time someone tried selling Anderson on what was called the Florentine city concept.  I had always thought it silly but then I hit on why it was wrong: Florence, Italy did not get its importance from its art but from its commerce. Artists do not substitute for business.

Then I recalled most of Florence, Italy's art was public art. Anderson could use art as part of its economic development. The first two ideas below grew out of that realization. Columbus, Indiana already does something similar with its architecture.

Other ideas came along. I fleshed them out years ago but it looks like I will not get to those notes any time soon, so here they are in outline form:

• A public competition for murals on the buildings downtown and on all public buildings and in public spaces. Anderson citizens would vote on all installations. Use local talent as well as outside talent. Have all proposals out in the public as an attraction.
• Put in sculpture in the Shadyside area, around the wetlands, and in all public places. Anderson citizens would vote on all installations. Use local talent as well as outside talent. Have all proposals out in the public as an attraction.
• Create a statewide high school theater competition, original works, that will utilize all of the city's stages, including Shadyside Park and the Paramount. 
• The same as the previous but with film and the Paramount.
• A bike race from Anderson to Muncie to Marion to Kokomo to Anderson.
• A marathon from Anderson to Muncie.
• Especially with the last two, other activities scheduled to keep visitors in Anderson. Film festivals at the Paramount would be a start. Have Breaking Away playing at The Paramount after the bike race.
• An annual business start up day where potential Anderson entrepreneurs Would include start up businesses meeting with lawyers, venture capitalists, and city redevelopment officials.

Well, that is what I got. Maybe it atones for what I did not do for what amounts to my hometown.

sch 4/23/22