Press Release – Rust Belt to Artist Belt III Conference in Detroit to explore developing creative “Supply Chain” for midwest communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: James Canning
james@canningcommunications.com
313-580-2845

RUST BELT TO ARTIST BELT III CONFERENCE IN DETROIT TO EXPLORE DEVELOPING ‘CREATIVE SUPPLY CHAIN’ FOR MIDWEST COMMUNITIES

Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 7 in Detroit’s New Center Neighborhood

DETROIT, March 1, 2011—The Rust Belt to Artist Belt III conference is coming to the city of Detroit April 6 and 7.  Artists, creative business owners and practitioners, educators, and designers will meet in Detroit to explore how post-industrial Rust Belt cities are being shaped by creative individuals in the areas of economic and community development, entrepreneurialism, and land use.

The biennial conference is being hosted by the Detroit Creative Corridor Center in partnership with ArtServe Michigan and Techtown at the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education College for Creative Studies, 460 W. Baltimore in Detroit.  The theme is Cultivating Talent and Innovation to Transform Post Industrial Cities.

Panel discussions, skills building workshops, and facilitated idea generation sessions will be the vehicles used for attendees to examine best practices for connecting creative practitioners with prototype and advanced manufacturers in order to establish a “Creative Supply Chain.”

“Our city has always been home to creative and innovative thinkers, however over the last few years the artistic and creative community has emerged to become a – if not the – key-influencer in the transformation of Detroit,” said Matthew Clayson, Director of the Detroit Creative Corridor Center.  “We want to get the best creative minds from our community and across the country in one place to identify the best ways to utilize the Rust Belt’s unique mix of assets in order to spark economic growth and efficiency.”

Featured speakers/panelist for the two day conference include: Greg Garrett, Chief Strategy Officer, IT and Innovation, for Volkswagen North America; Director and Chief Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Arts Detroit, Luis Croquer; Detroit-based singer and songwriter Monica Blaire; Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award winning artist, songwriter, and director Allee Willis; CEO of Detroit Ventures Partners and Founder and Chairman of ePrize, LLC, Josh Linkner; Steve Coy of the Hygenic Dress League and Detroit Projection Project; Terry Schwarz, Director of the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative; and Philip Delamore of UCA Textile Futures/College of Fashion in London.

A discounted early bird ticket price of only $55 is now available for Rust Belt to Artist Belt III through March 21 and then the price increases to $80.  To purchase tickets visit: www.RustBeltToArtistBelt.com.

Rust Belt to Artist Belt III in Detroit is supported through The Kresge Foundation and Surdna Foundation of New York City.

Detroit was granted the opportunity to host the biennial Rust Belt to Artist Belt conference last year. The 2007 and 2009 events were held in Ohio by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture Cleveland.

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About Creative Corridor Center

The Detroit Creative Corridor Center (“DC3″) is an entity supported by Business Leaders for Michigan and the College for Creative Studies whose vision is to establish Detroit as a global center of creative business, creative innovation and creative talent. Visit www.DetroitCreativeCorridorCenter.com.

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