CenterFest holds planning focus groups

We invite your participation in the CenterFest continuing planning process!
Durham Arts Council, producer and presenter of CenterFest Arts Festival for 37 years, announced in July its plans to expand and re-envision CenterFest. DAC and its key partners have been underway in the visioning/planning process for the 2012 event and invite your participation in the next step: CenterFest focus groups.
Focus Groups take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St. in Durham. If discussions need additional time the groups will continue to 8 p.m.
Please RSVP by clicking on the link for each focus group. You are welcome to attend one, several or all.

CenterFest—Visual Arts Focus Group
Wednesday Jan. 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DAC. If discussion needs additional time the group will continue to 8 p.m.
The visual arts focus group will discuss event components related to the visual artists who apply for sales/display booth space and other possible visual arts elements of the festival such as interactive public art, art demonstrations, student art showcase and other ideas.
Co-Moderated by: Molly Pasca, Pottery artist and Lucy Grant, DAC Board Member

CenterFest—Creative Community Focus Group
Friday, Jan 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DAC. If discussion needs additional time the group will continue to 8 p.m.
The focus group for the creative community will discuss some new elements being considered for CenterFest such as showcases for new creative businesses, design arts and technology and favorite past elements such as the non-profit showcase. Although anyone is invited to attend, this focus group will be most appropriate for designers, game developers, architects, music industry, film arts, arts non-profits and other creative businesses that have not typically been part of traditional arts festivals.
Co-moderated by: Matthew Coppedge, Downtown Durham Inc. and Meredythe Holmes, Monarch Services and Beverly Meek, Duke University

CenterFest—Food/Beverage/Culinary Arts Focus Group
Monday, Jan. 23, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DAC. If discussion needs additional time the group will continue to 8 p.m.
This focus group will discuss possible new culinary arts/beverage/food elements for CenterFest and how we might do that. Locally sourced foods, wine festival, beer garden, food truck rodeo, chef competitions and other foodie ideas will be on the table. Restauranteurs, brewers, wine folks encouraged to attend and all who can think with gastronomic glee.
Co-moderated by: Diane Daniel, author of Farm Fresh North Carolina and Shelly Green, President & CEO of Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau

CenterFest—Music/Performing Arts Focus Group
Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DAC. If discussion needs additional time the group will continue to 8 p.m.
This focus group will discuss the music and performing arts entertainment elements of the festival, including performances on the festival grounds and main stages and surrounding venues. This may possibly include both non-ticketed free performances, ticketed performances, a wrist-band access series, roaming entertainment, interactive crowd elements (planned and spontaneous) and other ideas.
Co-moderated by: Mike Woodard, DAC Board VP/Duke University/City Councilman; Joe Newberry, musician; Marc Lee, WNCU radio announcer/emcee; and Kirk Ridge, NC Songwriters Co-Op

CenterFest—Site/Venues/Format Focus Group
Monday, Jan. 30, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DAC. If discussion needs additional time the group will continue to 8 p.m.
This focus group will discuss the possible sites, venues, event layout, gating, admission, load-in/load-out, look and feel of the event, security, volunteers and other site and format considerations.
Co-Moderated by: Casey Steinbacher, President & CEO, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce;
Sioux Watson, Publisher, The Independent; and Sherry DeVries, DAC Executive Director.

Durham Arts Council Executive Director, Staff and Board Leadership will be present at all the focus groups to provide information, listen and document all the great ideas, and answer questions.
Thank you in advance for your feedback.
Thanks to all of you who have already responded to the CenterFest Survey. You can still fill out the survey -click here!

The CenterFest Focus Groups will culminate in early February in a final Design Charrette co-facilitated by DAC and the Durham Area Designers with support from DCVB, DDI, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, and Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development.