Beginning Memorial Day 2006, County Seats sculptures transformed into unique works of art will be displayed on street corners, in parks, in malls, and in front of businesses throughout the region. The project involves the manufacture of recycled-content sculptures which will be painted by local artists using their own unique ideas and designs. (No logos or political, religious, or commercial messages are allowed.) After Labor Day, the pieces will be auctioned at a grand gala event with 50% of the net profits going toward the creation of an arts scholarship fund and 50% returning to the participating communities to support future art, beautification and marketing projects. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO: • Enrich Northwest Indiana through the arts. • Promote regional cooperation through the arts. • Promote tourism and economic development in Northwest Indiana through public art. • Reveal the usefulness, durability, and beauty of recycled materials. • Create a scholarship fund to support future artists in Northwest Indiana. • Support future art, beautification, and marketing projects in participating communities. WHY ART? Public art exhibitions have become a civic and cultural phenomenon generating tourism and economic development. The exhibits help instill a sense of civic pride in local citizens as well as providing an entertaining and unique special event for locals and tourists alike. Above: Artists renderings. SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT: "The County Seats Project celebrates and benefits a key contributor to our overall quality of life: the Arts. It is an asset in Northwest Indiana that we too often overlook." DANIEL LOWERY, Ph.D. Executive Director, Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council "Communities that integrate arts as a component of their economic development strategy improve a region's quality of life making communities more attractive to companies and skilled workers. The County Seats Project serves the purpose of uniting communities, enhancing economic opportunity, and creating visibility for the region." VINCE GALBIATI Executive Director, Northwest Indiana Forum "Throughout the nation, communities are turning to the arts as a catalyst for positive change. Projects like County Seats improve the quality of life by creating opportunities for cultural tourism and engagement for people of all ages. By encompassing a three-county region, County Seats also will create and strengthen connections between the socially and culturally diverse communities of Northwest Indiana." JOHN CAIN Executive Director, South Shore Arts PRESS RELEASES Many Cities on Board for County Seats Project January 28, 2006 (68K PDF) Art Project Promotes Regional Cooperation September 29, 2005 (74K PDF) Local Businesswomen Coordinate Arts Project to Promote Region March 20, 2005 (64K PDF) PROJECT COLLABORATORS The County Seats Project is presented by Creative Communities, Inc. The individuals that make up Creative Communities are listed below. PAT POPA Business Owner, Popa Heating & Cooling / www.popahvac.com RENAE VANIA-TOMCZAK Manager of Resource Development, NorthShore Health Centers / www.northshorehealth.org JUDITH MAYER Business Owner, Keyword Design / www.keyworddesign.com Vice President of Marketing, Northern Indiana Arts Association KATHLEEN BERDA Event Planning Consultant RICK HENSON PROJECT SPONSORS Mercantile National Bank Schepel Buick GMC Pontiac Cadillac Hummer The Times Post-Tribune WYIN Channel 56 The News Dispatch Lake County Solid Waste Management District Reycling and Waste Reduciton District of Porter County Solid Waste District of LaPorte County AFS Limited (Seat Fabricator) Aide Rentals & Sales The Legacy Foundation LEGAL COUNSEL Scott E. Yahne, Efron, Efron & Yahne www.efronlaw.com WEB HOSTING CBL Consulting, Highland, Indiana www.cblconsultinginc.com FISCAL AGENT South Shore Arts (formerly known as Northern Indiana Arts Association) will serve as Fiscal Agent for this project. South Shore Arts is designated a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. South Shore Arts works to create and strengthen connections among socially and culturally diverse communities of Northwest Indiana and south suburban Chicago by providing opportunities for artistic and cultural expression, education and appreciation. www.southshoreartsonline.org