Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Looking Towards a New Year

In 2009, CreateHere resolves to do more.

But as the little ditty goes, let not old (or is it “auld”?) acquaintances be forgot. 2008 was a year full of new friends and close neighbors, and it’s a year that will stay in our hearts and thoughts for a long time.

In these twelve months, we’ve met some of Chattanooga’s best and brightest. We hosted nine gallery shows in our studio space, and were privileged to witness the Southside’s creative abilities in the process. We celebrated the graduation of 86 current and aspiring entrepreneurs through our business-planning course, and stood back in awe while MakeWork recipients turned $150,000 worth of artist grants into priceless cultural assets. We see our neighbors succeeding, and they inspire us to work harder, everyday.

In 2009, we resolve to support Chattanooga’s entrepreneurs by expanding the scope of our economic initiatives: we’ll be hosting roundtable discussions for executives of mid-sized businesses, and offer saving incentive programs for creatives looking to invest in career-advancing assets. In addition, MakeWork 2009 will pump another $150,000 into the creative economy. Our studio space is expanding and evolving, and we’re proud to be witnessing the beginnings of a campaign that will give voice to all our hopes for this city.

We resolve to celebrate in 2009, to cheer even louder at the triumphs and achievements of Chattanooga’s citizens.

Happy New Year.

Monday, December 22, 2008

WTCI: Redefining Public Television

Mister Rogers. Sesame Street. Those were the days, right? Many of you probably remember watching, or letting your kids watch, those shows at a very young age.

Or maybe you recall your grandparents, curled up in recliners, watching Masterpiece Theater. And that’s how you remember public television: comforting, sweet, but a little bit dated. You’re terribly mistaken.

Our LeadHere fellows were honored last week with a visit to WTCI, Chattanooga’s public television station, and the trip has opened our eyes to how we watch the tube. After all, you can only watch Seinfeld reruns for so many hours. Our recommendations for a few WTCI TV alternatives.

For something new to laugh at, tune into the britcom, Are You Being Served? The show follows the lives of department store employees and the “constant carping between Ladies Separates and Gentleman’s Ready to Wear.”

Love a good mystery? History Detectives is the show for you. Try to solve some of the most interesting stories, from ship wrecks to mysterious love notes.

For those looking for a feel-good show, plant yourself in front of The Life a House Built: The 25th Anniversary of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, to learn about their life’s work with Habitat for Humanity.

To see a schedule of show times visit the WTCI website.

By Elana Gulas

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Promoting Young Leaders: A Look at the George T. Hunter Lecture Series

On January 13, Chattanooga will host Doris Kearns Goodwin, a preeminent historian and author in the field of presidential politics. Her appearance kicks off the George T. Hunter Lecture Series, which also boasts speakers John Merrow, Van Jones and David Brooks.

Goodwin’s research has made her a popular commentator during the lead-up to President Elect Barack Obama’s inauguration. For Chattanooga, a speaker of this magnitude has implications beyond the strictly political, though. For this reason, Goodwin will focus her lecture on leadership and on the enduring characteristics of strong leaders, past and present.

In anticipation of the lessons provided by this lecture, the Benwood Foundation, the Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies, CreateHere, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga want to reach out to Chattanooga’s young leaders. UTC will host a leadership workshop with Goodwin in conjunction with her lecture, and all of the participating organizations intend to use the event as a mechanism for raising civil discourse among Chattanooga’s new and seasoned leaders alike.

CreateHere is always interested in engaging the next generation of Chattanooga’s leaders. For more information on LeadHere, a fellowship program that employs young innovators, please visit our site.

MakeWork 2009: $150,000 Announced for Grants

We’re excited to announce that CreateHere will be offering $150,000 in artist grants next year through our MakeWork program. Applications will be available on January 6, but in the meantime, we encourage you and your closest creative confidantes to consider what role you can play in making MakeWork projects as dynamic and important to Chattanooga as they were in 2008. Keep the gears turning, and your eyes pealed for more information.

For information on MakeWork, check out our website.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Eating Out for the Environment

Blue Orleans, located in the Clarke Center where Main meets Market, is partnering with the Trust for Public Land (TPL). Between December 13 and 19, Blue Orleans will donate 20% of your purchase to TPL and their initiatives in Chattanooga.

For more information on the Trust for Public Land, visit tpl.org.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Vote for a CreateHere Design!

We’re proud to announce that CreateHere fellow Daniel Skolfield is up for big honors. His design for the CreateHere event, Feast, is in the running for STEP Inside Design magazine’s Reader’s Choice award. Go to the polling site to check-out all the top designs.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

SpringBoard Spotlight: Sculptor Isaac Duncan

SpringBoard graduate and local sculptor Isaac Duncan was recently featured in the Times Free Press.  The owner of Duncan Sculpture and Services on Watauga Street, Isaac came to Chattanooga in 2004.

Isaac told the Times Free Press, “I like to challenge the fundamentals of sculpture. When I’m creating, I have a specific vocabulary I work in. I always create pieces that create a sense of motion; they’re not kinetic.”

Williams Island Farm Accepting CSA Orders for 2009

Williams Island Farm is currently registering shareholders for the 2009 CSA program. In addition to supporting a local farm and organic growing methods, you’ll get weekly batches of fresh produce from mid-May through Halloween. For more information on cost and crop availability, check out the 2009 CSA Registration Form.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Thank You for Celebrating Mainx24!

CreateHere would like to thank everyone who dropped by on Saturday to celebrate the Southside. Mainx24 was a huge success because of you, and we were honored to meet and reconnect with friends from all over Chattanooga during our gallery showing.

Thanks for being swept away by all things Main!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Hit the Streets Saturday for Mainx24

Main Street is home to some of Chattanooga’s brightest, and the surrounding area has a history both rich and changing. Mainx24 is an event to celebrate all that Main Street and its tributaries have to offer. There are marching bands and boy scouts, fashionistas and activists, potters and musicians, all ready to share and show.

Put on your coat and join the party. Events start Saturday, December 6 at 8:30 am, continue through the day and wrap-up well after the wee hours.

Check out a complete schedule at mainx24.com.

Mainx24 Photo Contest: Ready, set, SHOOT!

To celebrate and document this year’s Mainx24, The Chattanooga Times Free Press will sponsor a photography contest. Participants are asked to capture a unique facet of the Southside party, and with nearly 50 events already planned, the opportunities are endless.

Participants can email their entries to the newspaper directly during the day on December 6, or can upload the from a Chattanooga Times Free Press terminal in the lobby of the Clarke Center, where they’ll be posted in real time.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press photo staff will select 20 top photographs, which the public will then vote on between December 9 and 12. The People’s Choice award goes to the top rated photo, which will be featured in the Sunday, December 14 newspaper alongside the Editor’s pick.

All submissions should be sent to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and must be received by Monday, December 8 at 5:00 pm. Cash prizes and gift certificates for top-rated photos!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Eating Locally Offers Big Paybacks

The Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies, along with Crabtree Farms, recently released a study on the local foodshed.

According to a release from the Ochs Center, “the study predicts that if an additional 5% of foods consumed in the region were sourced locally, the positive economic impact could reach $100 Million. This is, of course, in addition to the environmental and health benefits from eating locally grown food.”

Eating locally couldn’t be easier. In addition to supporting restaurants that by local, community sponsored agriculture (CSA) programs make farm shareholders out of hungry residents. For a complete list of farms that provide CSAs, and to learn a little bit about how they work, visit the Crabtree Farms website.