(Branson, MO) – Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) provided special recognition to Downtown Joplin Alliance (DJA) during Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference’s Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony and Dinner at the St. Charles Convention Center. They were one of 23 community, individual, business, and organization award recipients that were recognized on July 24.
DJA received special recognition for their Joplin Arts Fest Field Guide, which was part arts magazine, part festival program, and part whimsical sketchbook.
The Joplin Arts Fest Field Guide was a forty-two page, spiral-bound booklet that celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Joplin Arts Fest in bold, colorful fashion; highlighted the amazing fine artists and live performers of the weekend; and created an interactive artifact that would live beyond one weekend in September by enabling residents and visitors to explore Joplin in a new way.
Kimberly Zerkel, a local professional writer and Arts Fest committee member, led the writing team of partnering organizations such as Connect2Culture, Post Art Library, the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition, and Spiva Center for the Arts. The assets and articles collected and featured in the first half of the booklet introduced visitors to the word of the festival, Main Street, and beyond. The second half of the booklet was craft to be pure fun with “Prompts & Circumstances,” which allowed kids and adults to sketch, journal, and reflect throughout downtown Joplin. The design and layout were crafted by DJA staff member, Ivy Hagedorn, with additional artwork provided by Kearstin Mattox and Amanda Kidston.
As a Main Street organization, Downtown Joplin included information on historic preservation that highlighted the historic buildings of downtown Joplin, promoted small businesses, and expanded the idea of how art is integrated into the everyday world.
Downtown Joplin’s Joplin Arts Fest Field Guide encompassed what it means to be a Main Street program by uniting partners, people, and creativity to make a one-of-a-kind experience that generated an economic impact, love for community, and so much more.
About Missouri Main Street Connection:
Missouri Main Street Connection is a statewide program currently providing services and training to over 130 communities across the state. MMSC offers education and mentoring in downtown revitalization strategies using the Main Street Approach™ as developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The approach is a comprehensive methodology addressing all components of revitalization including organization, design, economic vitality, and promotions, all within the context of historic preservation.
About Downtown Joplin Alliance:
Downtown Joplin Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown community as a thriving, safe and attractive center of art, history, enterprise, commerce, culture, residence and entertainment. Downtown Joplin is host to many monthly, seasonal, and annual events designed to encourage community involvement and stimulate the local economy.
Reference
Lori Haun, Executive Director
Downtown Joplin Alliance
lori@downtownjoplin.com
417.529.3888
Be the first to comment