Katherine Mooring

"Charlotte in 2012" is becoming quite a theme this year, as we prepare to welcome our fabulous arts marketing and development peers from across the country to the National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP) Conference in November, just months after serving as the host for the recent Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Our arts community played a critical role in the DNC from day one—not only as a major player in the process that led to Charlotte’s selection as the convention site, but also as primary partners for major events like CarolinaFest 2012, delegate parties, and even The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which broadcast from the stage of our local children’s theatre.

Gearing up for this national spotlight gave our local arts marketing minds a chance to show off the myriad ways we impact and enliven our community like never before. Video emerged as the primary medium for these messages, as Charlotte artists and arts organizations told their stories to new, national audiences in creative and compelling ways. Here's one example:

From the more formal, host-committee directed promotional pieces, to a visionary, community-side initiative known as the Charlotte Video Project.

From a collective of inspired individual artists infusing downtown Charlotte with their own brand of Random Acts of Culture™ to an entirely grassroots effort called Yard Art Day, that encouraged area residents to celebrate their creative spirit by displaying or performing their own works of art for 24 hours in their front yards or balconies for the public.

We even had some spontaneous street dancing courtesy of a fun-loving group of police officers from Clayton County, GA.

With more than forty local attendees already registered for NAMPC 2012, we look forward to continuing our learning with sessions on broadening audience development, deepening audience engagement and more. We hope you’ll join us in Charlotte—after watching all of these great video stories, how can you resist?!