Our brains, particularly in the Internet era, love lists. We sometimes hear about "listicles," the article-as-numbered-list writings as seen on social media. It's a blend of visual and text, really, and it seems to tickle our minds.
So, yeah, the listicle can work for Lindsborg, too. Holly Lofton and Tricia Clark at the Lindsborg CVB are building a list of "the best $10 you can spend in Lindsborg" for use in a news release. Do you have a favorite treat? Small purchase? Donation? Just jot down a brief paragraph about your fave little splurge and send it within 24 hours to Holly at cvb@lindsborgcity.org. * * * This morning, Ad Hoc continued its discussion fololow-up of an April trip to Berea, KY, by a Lindsborg-Bethany College group. The trip's aim: gather inspiration from a town of 15,000 with a close college-community history and well-known traditions in the arts and crafts. The group also wanted to see how Berea signals its vitality to its residents and many thousands of visitors every year. Since its inception, Ad Hoc has been about improving "The Lindsborg Experience" for residents and visitors alike. Constant signs and symbols of what and who we are as a community remain an important as we develop. Thankfully, we have the venerable Dala horse as a symbol. We also have generally well-maintained housing and public buildings, often with local art or craft displayed. We see ongoing street improvements and new construction. The in-town walking trail is well-maintained and welcoming with historical signs dotting it. We have one large and several small murals on downtown buildings -- each lovely. Yet there's more to do. So this morning we discussed: What more can we do to signal community vitality overall, especially in the creative realms? Here are some ideas: • Don't be blind to what is here already. Don't be shy of celebrating it. • Expand the realms in which fine art and craft can take place. Where are under-used spaces in existing buildings/businesses that can be turned into small working and showing areas? • Also expand the idea of what art can be. Focus on the satisfaction of creating. • Seeing the creative process under way is a big signal. Where can painters paint, makers make in front of us? • Create a visual element that can be placed on all websites to signal our friendliness to the fine arts and crafts. • Draft a phrase or statement -- a tag -- that amplifies this. • Find a place for Bethany students to show and demonstrate and be celebrated downtown. • Organize visual artists to paint otherwise uninteresting items such as back-of the-building bumper guards, concrete curbs stops, and alley utility boxes. Expand the number of unexpected pops of color and design in the most humble everyday places. • Update a list of "makers" in our area -- makers of music visual art, craft, theater and writing. • Is there a way to expand the number of artists' residencies in our area? In this way, more creative people can try Lindsborg and Bethany College on for size over a week or so. • Expand social media awareness of Lindsborg and makers. Certainly Makers Street, the 2nd Friday Lindsborg art walk, is giving us a real specific invitation and set of visuals for social media, as well as introducing new creatives to our town.
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