About The Arts Exchange on the first day of spring...

It's the first day of spring...always good for imagining new beginnings and planting both seeds and ideas. Both start with a dream of what can become.

So, today, on the vernal equinox (oooh, that makes me want to start writing like Rudyard Kipling, O Best Beloved) its a good day to write my first blog for The COCA Buzz (yes, I've been putting it off.) My position at COCA is Development Director for The Arts Exchange, a project that is a wonderful idea, and will grow to become a reality very soon.

Over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to meet with many of our local arts and cultural organizations and their boards of directors. I explain the concept of The Arts Exchange, an arts "village" that combines office, meeting and rehearsal spaces for our local arts organizations, features a 400 seat black box theatre (that is a BIG black box), affordable live-work housing, and arts-friendly retail on the corner of Gaines and Railroad. (If you aren't familiar, take a minute to visit http://www.the-arts-exchange.com/ and you can learn more.) Some folks are familiar with the project, some are eager to learn more.

Here's what inspires me. Almost everyone smiles and nods as I (or Randi or Peggy) explain. Maybe it's because we are enthusiastic, and we emote, and use our hands a lot when we talk. I think it's more than that though. I think people can picture themselves at such a destination. Talking to other arts organizations and sharing ideas. Taking a break mid-afternoon and grabbing a latte' (OK, I think my personal fantasy just crept in...and if that's so, let's add a chocolate chip cookie.) Attending a play or recital in the black box. Having a place to store music, files, take deliveries, have someone to answer the phone. Watching Gaines Street transform into something beautiful. The Arts Exchange can do this.

So again, it's spring. I am planting my seeds by writing this blog. I plan to watch The Arts Exchange grow into a reality. And when it's built I am going to bring over one BIG planter so I can grow some of my favorite flowers and watch them bloom. Here's to spring and watching things grow!