Austin, Texas

What problem is being addressed?

Public attraction

What is their innovative solution?

Action: This case study attributes Austin’s ‘boom’ to tech companies/start ups, in a Silicon Valley sort of way. So much money was flowing into Austin that arts groups became involved, and ‘between 1994 and 2002, plans were hatched for nine new or newly renovated museums, two new performing arts organization headquarters, one new theatre and one renovated theatre, a new cultural center, and a new three-venue performing arts center – almost all of them within a few square miles in the heart of the city. By the end of 2003, they would transform Central Austin into a cultural wonderland’ (Sterling, 2007). This influx of artists/culture brought about festivals such as SXSW, bringing people from all over the world to Austin to appreciate media arts from all over the world.
People: Company partnerships and promoters
Resources: Museums, festivals, tech companies

How can this be applied to Meadville?

Problem: Public attraction
Partners: MARC, My Meadville, Meadville Calendar
Significance: Meadville has such incredible events and happenings during the summer that most of the community/surrounding communities are aware of. The issue is there is quite a lull during the winter, and more emphasis needs to be put on events that occur during this time. Organizations like the MARC, My Meadville and the Meadville calendar could collaborate to draw attention to winter events. Using the MARC ice skating rink for example, it’s the only rink nearby! Even the one in Erie is primarily for ice hockey purposes. People would drive quite aways just to go ice skating during the winter, if only they knew about it. Marketing and adding cultural emphasis to places like the MARC during the winter would attract more traffic and business.

Sterling, B. Austin: a case study in the urban culture industry, 06 September, 2007