Square Corner Artwork in Clarksville

I took a great road trip this weekend to Clarksville for a meeting of the Arts RoundTable, a new group of organizations and artists from East Texas. These folks are getting together every few months to trade ideas and look for ways to collaborate. Their issues are common to non-profits – how to keep small organizations going, finding grants, spreading the word out about what they’re doing. And the ideas they are just beginning to kick around are fun – i.e. creating a circuit so performers and shows can easily “tour” East Texas, or nearby towns can easily swap Christmas productions.

Last week, at Arts Advocacy Day in Dallas, arts groups were learning ways to emphasize how much money their work brings into the city. “The Arts fuel the economy” was the mantra. So it was interesting to hear the East Texas groups’ belief that the arts will spark economic redevelopment in some small towns.

At the very least, it can spruce the place up. Our host was Larry Algaier, owner of Square Corner Artworks in Clarksville. Algaier renovated the building in the corner of the city’s square for his street-level gallery, which just opened this year. He also finished out a loft above, which he makes available for community events.

This group expects to meet again in early November, this time in the Tyler-Longview area. If you’re interested in attending, contact Roz Catania from the East Texas Rural Arts Council at [email protected].