By Jennifer Sadler

It’s difficult to imagine Columbus without its many unique, independent shops, restaurants, farmers' markets, galleries and arts organizations. These independent businesses and retailers are an important part of the distinctive character of our city’s many diverse neighborhoods—making Columbus a culturally interesting and wonderful place to live.

With the holiday season upon us, we urge you to consider shopping local for your gifts.  When you shop local the tax revenue stays in Ohio and your purchase helps local businesses maintain their neighborhoods’ vitality and strengthen the economy.

Buy local movements, such as The 3/50 Project, are grass roots awareness campaigns focused on reuniting consumers and independent, locally owned businesses in their communities. The 3/50 Project encourages consumers to pick three locally owned businesses they can’t live without, and commit to spending $50 per month across those businesses, in addition to other spending they do, which includes annual holiday shopping.

Significantly more money re-circulates back into your local community when you shop locally. According to AmericanStyle magazine, studies show that for every dollar spent in locally owned independent stores, 63 cents returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only 25 cents stays here.

The 3/50 Project founder, Cinda Baxter says the project is not meant to push people away from “big box” stores but to get shoppers to find a balance.

By thinking outside the box, holiday shoppers can find one-of-a-kind gifts, while reducing their carbon footprint and making friends with small businesses in the community. Independent business owners have a vested interest in the success of their neighborhood so they are more likely to sponsor local events and contribute to community projects, strengthening the area’s health and vitality. 

But it’s not just about buying from the independent retailers this holiday season. Handmade items from local artisans, tickets to movies and performances, memberships to area arts and cultural organizations, gift certificates to local restaurants—are all thoughtful gifts that can be given to friends and family with pride because they’re also an investment in the community.

Continue reading >>

GCAC's Annual Public Forum December 6:  Looking Forward

Each year the Greater Columbus Arts Council Annual Public Forum is an opportunity to report to the community and stakeholders about accomplishments, plans and important work undertaken by the agency. Join GCAC to hear about exciting changes this past year and what 2011 holds for GCAC funding programs. GCAC will be presenting revisions to the agency grant funding guidelines for organizations and individuals—the first significant changes in more than a decade.

GCAC’s 2010 Public Forum will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, December 6 at MadLab, 227 N. Third Street. Free parking is available in adjacent lots. For map of available parking spaces visit www.madlab.net and click on Contact or go to: www.madlab.net/MadLab/Contact_files/parkingmap.jpg.

The annual Public Forum seeks to open up a broad dialogue with community members and grant applicants. Forum attendees will have the opportunity to address GCAC’s board of trustees and GCAC Interim President Milt Baughman on any arts or cultural issue after the forum presentation.

GCAC's 2010 Public Forum is free to attend, but an RSVP is requested. To RSVP, e-mail Jennifer Sadler at jsadler@gcac.org or call 614-221-8691.

Attention Local Artists:  Columbus Arts Festival Commemorative Print Competition Deadline Extended to December 6

The Columbus Arts Festival has extended the deadline for the 50th Anniversary Festival Commemorative Print Competition to Monday, December 6.  To be eligible, artists must reside in Franklin or a surrounding county (Union, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Fayette and Madison).

Interested participants must design a piece of work that is print-ready or ready to be photographed and suitable for reproduction by the Columbus Arts Festival. The chosen artist for the 2011 Commemorative Print will receive $1,000, VIP passes to the Festival, associated merchandise and a complimentary booth space (if desired) at the 2011 Columbus Arts Festival. The top nine artists will receive $100. There is a $10 fee per entry.

Jurors for the selection of the top 10 designs include Shelley Mann, editor of Columbus alive!, Jerry Gilmore and Aaron Hequembourg, two of the Columbus Arts Festival jurors. The top 10 finalists selected by the jury will be placed on the Columbus alive! Web site in January for a people's choice vote. More details and the Festival jurors bios below.  Click here to download the application.

Entries must be received by Monday, December 6, 2010.

Jerry Gilmore received his BA in fiber and painting from Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington and his MFA in painting and drawing from Washington State University. Gilmore served as the director/curator at Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, Colorado and prior to that was the executive director/curator at the Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art Fort Collins, Colorado. Gilmore is currently an independent curator, visual artist and writer.

Aaron Hequembourg is a Missouri native who trained in printmaking at the University of Iowa. Hequembourg’s current work centers around the artifacts and objects that abound on his 150 year old, 2000 acre farm near Monticello, Virginia, and he is considered by some to be among the next generation of folk artists. Throughout his career he was won numerous awards, including the Award of Excellence at the 2010 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Best in Mixed Media at the 2010 Renaissance Fine Arts Festival, Best in Mixed Media at the 2009 Atlanta Arts Festival, and Best in Mixed Media at the 2008 Memphis Riverfest, among many others.