Ms. Donna Neuwirth

It’s the Ecology, Stupid

Posted by Ms. Donna Neuwirth, Feb 22, 2014 0 comments


Ms. Donna Neuwirth

Donna Neuwirth and Jay Salinas Donna Neuwirth and Jay Salinas

Ecology and economy share the same root word, oikos referring to a household or family. Because it is at that level that these concepts can best be understood –a discrete unit that can sustain itself, financially, culturally and environmentally; large enough to have impact; diversified enough to be resilient, yet small enough to retain knowledge and control of its elements.

Economies in rural communities retains some of this compact nature. We operate at a level where our work can have measurable impact. We can communicate directly with elected officials, business leaders and seldom have to introduce ourselves more than twice.

Our original household economic goals were modest- we sought to derive a living by growing and marketing organic vegetables. Though our backgrounds were in the arts, we were used to performing duties not directly related to our vocation in order to pay the bills. But we quickly discovered that there were connections between the fields of culture and agriculture- not the least of which is the work of farming.  But for us, without the necessary balance of art, it would prove unsustainable.

Wormfarm Institute Combine Wormfarm Institute Combine

Because of this, the Wormfarm Institute has always found the relationship between a vibrant culture and economic activity to be a natural one. Over the past several years, as our projects have grown larger and more complex, involving several communities simultaneously we have come to value projects in part in terms of economic development. This isn’t a stretch or compromise but instead a natural result of working to increase diversity, vibrancy and resilience whether in our farm fields or our small downtown. This coincides with a nascent re-localization movement growing in response to the global economic upheavals of the last 8 years. It is easier now to make this oikos (human-scale) argument since most folks are aware how unwise it is to be dependent upon distant financial markets operated by self-interested entities, personal or corporate, untethered to any community.

Fortunately we have cultivated partners who have come to understand this and have community economic growth as a primary goal. The local Chamber of Commerce has been vital in the past several years serving as liaison to a business community understandably reticent about supporting challenging cultural programming initiated by an organization with a funny name run by outsiders (we’ve only been here 20 years after all). County government has been supportive since the beginning first by offering small arts grants that allowed us to grow programs and establish a track record. That Sauk County is the only rural county to provide this support in a state that now ranks 47th in arts funding, is hugely significant. It is by receiving this modest but steady support that we have leveraged state and federal funding, proving to many that the arts are a good investment.

Wormfarm land Wormfarm land

This support has recently taken a giant step as the County Board has approved $40K in a line item in the annual budget in support for Fermentation Fest. This is an unprecedented demonstration in the belief that culture can have county-wide benefits, not only in terms of quality of life or other “feel good’ intangibles but as an economic driver- the things they discuss at the grownups table.

In truth, we can’t significantly affect economic development, but we can dramatically increase economic activity. Through Fermentation Fest and Roadside Culture Stands we create places where people congregate- last year over 12,000 came to Fermentation Fest. The atmosphere is vibrant and people engaged since live culture is at the core of these activities. Minds are open, senses heightened and conviviality is the dominant mood. The perfect time to sell you something, right?

Well, in fact, it is, but maybe not art. Selling art is not a goal and we have made great efforts to resist the commodification of art objects. Art and culture are the activators, the magnetic force fields presented in a natural environment without the perceived and often insurmountable barrier that many (most?) people feel about cultural institutions. Temporary art in farm fields- music, poetry, dance, site-specific sculpture- or artist-designed & built Culture Stands at farmers markets generate the critical mass of humanity and puts them in a receptive mood for those best equipped to exploit the opportunity - restaurants, entrepreneurs, merchants  whose primary concern may be economic self-interest.

Economic activity is a natural byproduct of our arts-centered efforts. Economic development is the responsibility of those whose livelihood depends upon capturing and sustaining this activity. In this regard our results are mixed. We have created a fertile environment in which entrepreneurs have successfully launched new businesses, where newer businesses with a unique, high quality experience in out-of-the-way locations have raised their profiles enough that customers drive long distances to patronize them, and long-time shopkeepers have had their best sales in 30 years of business.

But many established businesses have failed to capitalize either through inertia, short-sightedness or lack of imagination. After three years, the biggest complaint from attendees at Fermentation Fest remains “…not enough to buy”. Whether it is souvenirs, antiques, or a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning or lunch on Monday afternoon, there remains a core of potential beneficiaries who haven’t seized the moment.

The lesson seems to be the tired cliché about “leading a horse to water” although in this case we are bringing water to the horse. Some drink their fill and are content, some figure out how to make aqueducts & cisterns and finally some risk dying of thirst as they stare uncomprehending at their reflections in the brimming trough.

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