Eight students took a deep dive into arts advocacy during JanTerm 2017 as they researched best practices for the City of Sherman. In a first-of-its-kind class at Austin College called “CityLab: Leadership on Location,” course instructors Dr. Martinella Dryburgh, director of the Posey Leadership Institute, and Cary Wacker, director of the College’s Center for Community & Regional Development (CCRD), merged ideas to create a leadership course in which students served as “consultants” for Sherman’s project.
The team traveled 700 miles to visit four Texas cities to interview community leaders about arts and cultural activities and to get a first-hand look at successful arts districts. The students’ work culminated in an extensive report and presentation to the Sherman City Council with recommendations for supporting community engagement in the arts.
Informed by the students’ work, Sherman is on track to create a citizen-led Cultural Commission and designate a formal cultural district encompassing much of downtown Sherman. In support of the new focus on cultural offerings in the region, the College’s CCRD recently launched an online community arts calendar—the number one request of local arts leaders during the JanTerm interview process. Austin College students will help maintain the calendar and network with local arts groups.
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