Thursday, May 12, 2005
Feasibility study for Southern Indiana Artisan Program underway
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The Ohio River Scenic Route of Indiana, Inc. (ORSR) has received grant monies from the State of Indiana to conduct a feasibility study for the development of an artisan program in a 21-county region in southern Indiana. The counties include Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland, Jefferson, Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Crawford, Perry, Spencer, Warrick, Vanderburgh, Posey, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Orange, Washington, Scott, Jennings, and Ripley. Staff of Historic Southern Indiana, a community outreach program of USI, assisted with writing the Quality of Place Initiative grant for the ORSR and will assist with the study. “We think this project will create a great opportunity for Indiana artisans, craftspeople, communities, and art retailers to take advantage of the resurgence of interest and increased market for handmade products,” said Darrell Voelker, ORSR president. ORSR has contracted with Werking Communities, Inc., to conduct the study. Werking Communities, Inc., specializes in the development of artisan programs and has worked with several arts-related programs in Kentucky, including Kentucky Craft Marketing, the Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trail project, and the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. Kathy Werking, owner of Werking Communities, is an artist and gallery owner from Midway, Kentucky. She has a Ph.D. in communication from Purdue University and has taught at the University of Louisville, University of New Hampshire, and Eastern Kentucky University. Her associate, David Cordell, assists businesses in start-up and development. “ORSR and Werking Communities, Inc. are excited about the possibility of developing a uniquely Hoosier artisan program that will benefit artisans and retail businesses and look forward to meeting and talking with business owners,” Werking said. A major goal of the project is to conduct an inventory of artisans and retail outlets that sell handmade crafts and specialty food products. Artisans include craftspeople, fine artists, winemakers, cheese-makers, and gourmet or specialty food makers. Retail outlets includes retail spaces, such as gift stores, galleries, or state park gift shops, engaged in the sale of handmade crafts, arts, and/or specialty foods. Once these resources are identified, a program tailored to the assets of the region and to the needs of its artisans and retail businesses will be proposed. Werking and Cordell will be contacting artisans and retail businesses in the next few weeks to ask basic questions about their products and business. The interviews will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The information provided is valuable to the future artisan program. “Identifying all the artisans in the area, developing a brand identity and creating marketing channels will go a long way toward allowing southern Indiana’s high quality artisans some of the same opportunities available in other states. We encourage everyone in the area who has an interest in the subject to participate and to provide information to make the project a success,” said Voelker. Contact Werking at 859/265-0445. |
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