Live Blogging the MKE Kre8 Kamp Day 2

5:30PM  They've posted the "Final Report Out" and "Closing" so that means the summit is essentially over.

I'm guessing, though it's a little hard to tell from the way it's written, that they divided into six groups to handle separate tasks: Vision, Leadership, Planning, Education and Workforce Development, Communication, and--hehe--Low Hanging Fruit (a.k.a. database and social media stuff).

To be honest, I'm a wee bit weary from all this heavy thinking and I wasn't even there. I can't begin to imagine how the summiteers are feeling right now. Dead tired, I'm bettin'.

I think the best plan of action is to sleep on it, come at it fresh in the morning and try to sort out some conclusions. You're encouraged to click on over to their blog, read it, leave a comment there, and return to Cricky's house to tell us what you think.

Sweet dreams, all you artsy kids.

End Transmission.

1:30PM  Oh boy, this new post should easily fulfill all your reading requirements for the day. It's a whole lotta back-and-forth and side-to-side about how to formulate a plan to move forward. Nobody said this was gonna be a nice comfy linear ride, but, sheesh, I'm nearly worn out.

In the interest of saving you the time and scrolling effort, here are some of the best comments made, presented in the classic form of call and response:

"If there is a way to engage the artists more in this process, the energy of the plan will be exponentially vibrant. None of us has the artistic abilities to convey our ideas. The creatives want to contribute and we need to pull them in."

Yes, indeed!

"There are a bunch of emerging ideas/themes that we agree to. If we come to terms with them and translate them to actions we can do this. We can’t walk out of here with abstractions and feeling good. We need an action plan."

Testify!

"The idea to get people to go where you are going is irrelevant. You need to go to where the people already are and show them what is available. It requires time, investment, understanding of their language."

Right on!

"To become part of the solution we have to change and do things differently. We have to lift up how the creative community is integrated into the fabric of the community. We have to make it so we can’t go away."

Amen!

Okay, so as good as those thoughts were, I believe that the all-around best came from Leslie Marquard, who just happens to be leading the summit:

"We are aware of the perfect storm... There are bad parts as well such [sic] as malaise. We have to infuse and give back at a time that everyone is reaching their hands out and asking for more. You don’t have to prove your worth, just show."

Class dismissed.

12:14  The peeps at the summit went into small groups to create skits in response to, um, well, they're calling it "Build a Nexus." Not entirely sure what that means, but they'll post the assignment later.

Anyhoo, a group called Back Pack turned The Major-General's Song from Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance into a nice little ditty:

"We are the very model of a modern-day collaborative
We’ve contributors commercial, artistic and creative
We know the needs of students and we show them arts memorable
From Milwaukee to suburb schools, our lessons we schedule

We’re very well acquainted, too, with budgets low and critical
We understand financials, both the arts world and academical
Throughout Milwaukees regions, we’re driving the economy
With many of the arts acting solo, with much autonomy"

Haha! Very clever, using a tune from a late 19th century comic opera to describe an early 21st century creative community. Say, was Artsy Schmartsy in that group by any chance?

Another group called Campfire had this to impart:

A.R.T stands for asshole removal team. It takes a lot of skilled technology to remove assholes from the room. Let send them to Chicago.
We will be Unique, High Quality, Self Esteem, Authentic, and Unapologetic, Risk Takers.
This all starts with Vision. Our funding will stem from Economic stimulus grants, ticket surcharges, memberships, and sales tax. We’ll use social media, our own networks. We’ll quietly work amongst people to generate interest.

Just doesn't have the same pizzazz, does it? Also, that last line about working quietly amongst the people doesn't quite gel with the all rest of the überaggressive talk, but, hey, if that's what pumps ya up.

11:30  So they've posted a lot more pics and the ones with people in them are actually pretty damn good. The participants look engaged and appear to be having some brain exercising fun--hurray! They've also gone ahead and posted downloadable documents of the assignments from yesterday, which is extremely helpful. See, Cricky can play nice.

11:09AM  Yesterday Cricky live blogged Day 1 of the Creative Community Summit in Delavan, WI via its MKE Kre8 Kamp Blog/Twitter. Consistency dictates that a return for Day 2 is required, so here I is!

This morning I was informed that the folks running this summit, Marble Leadership Partners, have never done this live blogging/twittering thing before, and it was suggested that maybe I should cut 'em a bit o' slack about the slowness of the posting and the lack of tweets. Oh, all right, I guess I can do that. Before I do, however, I would like to say that the point of my criticism was to get them to aim higher. I'm a big supporter of people trying new things and experimenting with new technologies, but sometimes the only way you can get better at something is to have someone--perhaps someone a bit snarky--tell you how.

Okay, enough of that and on with the show!

Related:
Live Blogging the MKE Kre8 Kamp
GMC to Blog and Tweet It's Way into Your Heart

Comments

[Jonathan West]

Cricky, you picked one of my statements as a "best of". Aw shucks. Actually, I think you snatched the ones that are really gonna make some differences. Thanks for virtually being with us.

[Mary Dally-Muenzmaier]

See, I knew you had the Artsy Schmartsies! ;)

Looking forward to reading your musing on the summit.

Mary