1. art and entertainment

The Good Life:
A Cultural Direction
for Eau Claire County
inside front cover
2 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
The Good Life:
A Cultural Direction for Eau Claire County
An introduction to the project | 3
The Good Life Project and Our Hopes for It | 4
Definitions | 6
Findings
Outdoors and Waterways | 9
Economic Development | 16
Downtown | 22
Tourism | 28
Education | 33
Aesthetics and Character | 43
Access | 49
Transportation | 50
Cost | 53
Barriers | 54
Schedules | 55
Awareness | 56
Variety | 58
First Steps | 60
Our process: a timeline | 63
Laughing in the rain: Bean & Bacon Days Parade, Augusta, July 4, 2010.
Photo by Dan Reiland, courtesy of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
On the cover:
Saturday, August 6, 2011, following
a screening of the movie Tangled
in Eau Claire’s Phoenix Park,
moviegoers got a chance to release
floating candle lanterns into the
sky. The event was organized by
Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. Photo
by Andrea Paulseth for Volume One.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 1
A Few Observations on “The Good Life”
In creating “The Good Life: A Cultural Direction for Eau Claire County,” the leaders of the process have looked deeply
into what makes Eau Claire County a good place to live. From an outsider’s perspective, this is a community with a
genuine “can-do” spirit, a strong sense of its history, and the beginnings of a unified vision for the future. The people who
contributed to the plan — whether as willing workers or thoughtful respondents — want to make Eau Claire a great place
to live, and there are recommendations in the plan that will accomplish that aim.
In my time visiting the area, it seemed to me that Eau Claire has been taking itself for granted, not seeing the richness and
diversity that already exists. One useful outcome of The Good Life plan has been to begin detailing the breadth and depth
of the area’s creative and cultural resources. There’s more work along this line called for in the plan, which will extend the
knowledge base the plan has begun to create.
Many communities create cultural plans, but few of them are as comprehensive as The Good Life plan, and even fewer
are as specific about making use of the area’s geography — the confluence of the rivers. The place where the waters of
the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers meet is increasingly the focus of activities in Eau Claire, and the city is witnessing a
complete reversal of the community’s perspective on the rivers: from industrial tools of the 19th century to major cultural
assets of the 21st century.
Looking to land as well as water, to people as well as places, the overall intention of The Good Life plan is to integrate
arts and culture more deeply into every aspect of life in the county — from economic development plans to the signage
on the highway as you enter the city to the way downtown feels to opportunities for everyone (not just students) to learn
in and about the arts. And while the plan focuses on residents of the area, there is also a recognition that cultural and
heritage tourism holds great potential for Eau Claire. Ultimately, the goal of The Good Life is to make Eau Claire County
a more creative place where people see value in their own and other’s artistic achievements. That work has begun with the
creation of this plan, and will continue as its recommendations are implemented.
Congratulations, Eau Claire!
Lisa Mount
Consultant
Artistic Logistics
2 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
The Good Life:
A Cultural Direction for Eau Claire County
In September 2011, publisher Nick Meyer took the Wisconsin Arts Board (of which he is a member) on a twoday tour of creative Eau Claire.
They traveled to the office of Visit Eau Claire to discuss the connections between arts and tourism in the
Chippewa Valley and talked with Eau Claire Children’s Theatre director Wayne Marek about its conversion of
an older industrial building into a performance and rehearsal space, costume shop, and prop center. The board met
with Mayo Health Systems art consultant Jon Thorpe to see the hospital’s new healing garden, state-of-the-art
theater/classroom and part of its art collection — and to hear about the role of the arts in the medical field.
The board drove through the historic Water Street District – a student-heavy area featuring restaurants, pubs,
and retail shops — then toured the Haas Fine Arts Center at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire to hear
from Dr. Robert Baca and Patti Horecki about the city’s jazz scene including the Eau Claire Jazz Festival (now
in its 45th year) and to view the annual faculty show with Foster Gallery director Tom Wagener and illustration
professor Ned Gannon. After lunch at the innovative Nucleus restaurant, Realityworks founders Rick and Mary
Jurmain and president Timm Boettcher told about their experiential learning products.
Banbury Place owner Jack Kaiser talked about taking on a 1.9 million square-foot, 43-acre tire manufacturing
plant in 1992 with a vision for a commercial, residential, and industrial re-birth of the property. Among the
hundreds of tenants are many artists and entrepreneurs. At the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center down the hill,
executive director Ben Richgruber, Chippewa Valley Symphony director Mark Blaskey, and Chippewa Valley
Theatre Guild director Ann Sessions explored some broader issues facing the local arts community now and in
the future.
At Volume One Office & The Local Store, owner Nick Meyer introduced the guests to the staff: 10 creative
full timers, 2 part-time workers, and dozens of interns who produce a twice-monthly magazine, a website, a
variety of local guides and publications, a number of community events, and, since November of 2010, a small
retail shop featuring music, books, art, and apparel created by someone local or evoking “local” in some way.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 3
After a few more stops and dinner at Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub, Eau Claire’s own Irish band, The
Shillelagh Lads provided an Irish-tinged rollickin’, foot-stompin’, jig-dancin’, tuneful good time. On the final
day, the arts board visitors stopped by Phoenix Park and the Farmers Market. The six-year-old Park hosts some
of Eau Claire’s most important new cultural events. The Saturday Farmers’ Market alone attracts as many as
5,000 people weekly for regional meats, cheeses, produce, flowers, and prepared foods along with music and art.
At the Chippewa Valley Museum in Carson Park, director Susan McLeod led the group through exhibits based
in part on regional folk arts fieldwork supported by the arts board, including the original multimedia “object
theater” production, This Day. Later, guests were free to attend International Fall Festival in downtown Eau
Claire or return to the Metropolis Hotel, where the Eau Claire Comic Art and Hobby Expo was in progress.
Eau Claire boasts a handful of professionally employed (and quite successful) comic book artists who work for
Marvel, Boom, and Image Comics.
There was no doubt by the end of the tour that the dimensions of creativity in Eau Claire were broad indeed.
The Good Life project and our hopes for it
As the long-time planning consultant to the City of Eau Claire, I was excited to learn about The Eau Claire County
Good Life project being led by the Chippewa Valley Museum. The work of The Good Life project to describe and link
all of the various features that contribute to quality of life in Eau Claire is, essentially, city planning at its finest. In my
plans, I have always tried to incorporate support for the many elements over which you have cast your net although
the plans ultimately have to focus on the parts that my client, the City, can directly control. The Good Life project will
help raise awareness of the importance of those features that contribute to “quality of life,” community attachment and
economic development. That awareness will help build support for public and private actions that provide access to
outdoor recreation, a healthful environment, art, recreation and places to meet. Communities that provide what people
value the most will be loved and will flourish.
Let’s look for ways to link the recommendations of The Good Life project to City endeavors such as the current
Waterways Plan, its neighborhood revitalization plans, its Comprehensive Plan and its capital improvements program.
Thanks,
William C. Weber, AICP, PTP
Weber Community Planning
In July 2009, the Chippewa Valley Museum (CVM) received a $93,782 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS), a federal agency.
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For the next two years, the museum worked with community partners to discover what residents thought of cultural life
in the City of Eau Claire and Eau Claire County, and what direction residents thought this cultural life could head. These
community partners, each with a similar interest in the area’s culture (very broadly defined), include the Eau Claire
Regional Arts Center, the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, the
Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, and members of Clear Vision Eau
Claire (more on them below).
One of the first — and hardest — decisions the group made was what
aspects of the county’s culture would be the focus. This also gained
the group the most criticism during the process, as respondents to the
various surveying instruments complained that culture in general, and
the culture of Eau Claire County in particular, stretched far beyond
arts, history, and heritage. For example, sports and recreation (whether
hunting or hiking, fishing or football) figure prominently in the culture
of Eau Claire County. However, many aspects of recreation, broadly
defined, already find themselves the subjects of long-range civic
planning. Some are even prescribed by Wisconsin statute. We chose to
work on those aspects of our area’s culture (such as history, heritage,
and the arts) that had had no county-wide long-range planning at all.
In taking on culture, arts, history, and heritage, CVM’s IMLS grant
neatly dovetails with another large project. Several years ago, a
coalition of City, County and other large institutions engaged the
National Civic League to facilitate a community visioning and
strategic-planning process, called Clear Vision Eau Claire. That
process revealed a gap. Although assessments and specific plans
support other important aspects of area life — such as the park system,
social services, and transportation — no comprehensive plan exists for the cultural sector. And those plans on other
important aspects of area life can, and should, more fully incorporate citizens’ thoughts and hopes about their cultural life.
Those thoughts and hopes should infuse all planning in Eau Claire County.
Chicken Chasers in Fall Creek.
Photo by Bill Hogseth.
Such thinking will surely help. Cultural planning helps local governments think strategically about cultural institutions
as resources for human and community development. It helps cultural institutions by identifying them and naming
them as assets. An inclusive planning process encourages more thoughtful integration of cultural resources into general
community plans and, in turn, create a more vibrant cultural life for Eau Claire.
The planning team worked with Lisa Mount, Director of Artistic Logistics in Sautee Nacoochee, Ga., and a nationally
recognized independent arts management consultant. Her recent clients include the Network of Ensemble Theaters,
the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation, and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. In 2008,
Georgia Trend Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.
Mount trained CVM staff in strategic and collaborative planning, which included interviews, surveys and community
forums — many kinds of conversations that led us forward. The resulting study, of which this document is a part, can
provide a tool for decision-making and direction setting for local government, for funders, and for cultural organizations.
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Definitions
Cultural Plan
A cultural plan considers community characteristics (past and present) and resources in the broadest sense.
Cultural planning is a way of looking at all aspects of community cultural life as community assets. It considers the
increased and diversified benefits these assets could bring to the community in the future, if planned for strategically.
Understanding culture and cultural activity as resources for human and community development, rather than merely
as cultural “products” to be subsidized because they are good for us, unlocks possibilities of inestimable value. And when
our understanding of culture is inclusive and broader than the traditionally Eurocentric vision of “high culture,” then we
have increased the assets with which we can address civic goals.
— Creative City website (toolkit for community cultural planning)
Cultural resources are here understood in a pragmatic way and include not only the arts and heritage of a place, but also
local traditions, dialects, festivals and rituals; the diversity and quality of leisure; drinking and eating and entertainment
facilities; the cultures of youth, ethnic minorities and communities of interest; and the repertoire of local products and
skills in the crafts, manufacturing and service sectors. Cultural planning should be seen by policy-makers as a tool for
both capitalising creatively on the distinctive cultural resources of a place and for capturing new economic opportunities.
— Lia Ghilardi: City University, London
Creative Economy
Rather than being exclusively driven by companies, economic growth is occurring in places that are tolerant, diverse
and open to creativity, mainly because these are the places where creative people of all types want to live. Scientists,
engineers, architects, designers or artists are all part of a new creative global class that cities need to nurture in order
to be able to compete internationally. … urban development policies need to be aware of the benefits of creating an
environment in which tolerance of different lifestyles and a good quality of life for everybody living in a particular place
go hand in hand….
— Lia Ghilardi, quoting Richard Florida
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…What is different about the creative economy approach is that it links the arts and the creative process to a
much wider range of economic activities including technological innovation and local and regional marketing. The
understanding that people, quality of place, and innovation are central to economic development has led to a new focus
on cultural resources as a key element in regional economic development. Creative economy approaches also typically
emphasize intra-regional cooperation rather than on local or interjurisdictional competition. … we need to think
about new approaches to economic development, emphasizing quality of life as well as traditional factors that attract firms
and a skilled workforce. A lively cultural life is not sustained only by presence of established arts and cultural institutions.
It also resides in the willingness and ability of people to come together around cultural events that combine qualities of
familiarity and innovation and change.
— Creative Economy Strategies For Small and Medium Size Cities: Options for New York State, Susan Christopherson,
Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University, July 20, 2004.
In the creative economy, innovative people are the key to economic growth and development. What do an artist, an
engineer and a healthcare worker have in common? Education — another support factor that distinguishes the creative
economy from the industrial economy. In fact, the expanding creative economy requires knowledge workers who must
obtain ever-higher levels of continuous education. One creative economy strategy would be for policymakers to focus
on education at all levels: pre-schools, K-12, and colleges and universities. …Creative-class workers who choose rural
environments value access to open space, outdoor opportunities, small town identity, and social networks they can relate
to. Making places livable and attractive will be an important task for urban planners and economic developers. To
ensure livability, policymakers also need to support arts, culture, and heritage, in both rural and urban areas.
— Virginia’s Creative Economy, Heike Mayer and Terry Holzheimer, Virginia Issues and Answers, Summer 2009
Creative City
The Creative City idea emerged from the late 1980s onwards along a number of trajectories in response to these emerging
trends. The idea, when introduced, was seen as an aspirational concept.... It posits that conditions need to be created
for people to think, plan and act with imagination in harnessing opportunities or solving seemingly intractable urban
problems. … A city that encourages people to work with their imagination goes well beyond the urban engineering
paradigm in city-making. This focuses largely on hard infrastructures such as roads, monotonous housing developments
or undistinguished office buildings… It requires, instead, a combination of both hard and soft infrastructures. Soft
infrastructure includes paying attention to how people can meet, exchange ideas, and network. It … encourages
physical developments and place-making or urban design that foster communication between people. These places have
high levels of amenity and quality. It promotes ‘third spaces’, which are neither home nor work where people can be
together. This might be a café or other kinds of gathering places…. Finally, being creative does not mean that someone
is only concerned with the new. …At times, one needs the courage to either change things if required or to have the
sound judgment to keep things as they are after reconsidering things only. Therefore, history and creative can be great
partners: often, great achievements are combinations of the old and new.
The Creative City: A Toolkit for Urban Planners, Charles Landry, 2008 (second edition)
Ready for a makeover? A warehouse
space at Banbury Place. Photo by
Scott W. Taylor.
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Creative Placemaking
In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, non-profit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical
and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities. Creative placemaking
animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public
safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired.
In turn, these creative locales foster entrepreneurs and cultural industries that generate jobs and income, spin
off new products and services, and attract and retain unrelated businesses and skilled workers. Together, creative
placemaking’s livability and economic development outcomes have the potential to radically change the future of
American towns and cities.
Instead of a single arts center or a cluster of large arts and cultural institutions, contemporary creative placemaking
envisions a more decentralized portfolio of spaces acting as creative crucibles. In each, arts and culture exist cheekby-jowl with private sector export and retail businesses and mixed-income housing, often occupying buildings and lots
that had been vacant and under-used. In large cities, many such hubs reflect the ethnic or historical character of place and
invite residents and visitors alike across porous boundaries to visit, patronize, and enjoy. In smaller towns, traditional
cultural practices and landscapes are transformed into distinctive cultural centers and festivals that revive emptying
downtowns and attract regional visitors. Large cultural institutions, often inspired by their smaller counterparts, are
increasingly engaging in active placemaking.
— Creative Placemaking, Ann Markusen, Markusen Economic Research Services and Anne Gadwa, Metris Arts
Consulting, 2010.White paper for The Mayors’ Institute on City Design, a leadership initiative of the National Endowment
for the Arts in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors and American Architectural Foundation.
Cultural and Heritage Tourism
According to a 2009 national research study on U.S. Cultural and Heritage Travel (Mandala Research), 78% of all
U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities while traveling (118.3 million adults each
year). Cultural and heritage visitors spend, on average, $994 per trip compared to $611 for all U.S. travelers. Perhaps
the biggest benefits of cultural heritage tourism are diversification of local economies and preservation of a
community’s unique character.
Cultural heritage tourism means traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories
and people of the past and present. It includes irreplaceable historic, cultural and natural resources. Challenges: Ensuring
that tourism does not destroy the very heritage that attracts visitors in the first place. … it does put demands on the
infrastructure — on roads, airport, water supplies and public services like police and fire protection.
— National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2011 Fact Sheet, www.culturalheritagetourism.org
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Outdoors and Waterways
• Both commerce and culture in Eau Claire County are tied to the
outdoors and our waterways, and always have been.
• Tremendous work has been done for decades on many aspects of
county and city waterways, both environmental and recreational.
Much more discussion and work is explicitly planned.
• If we can make one improvement to this aspect of our cultural
life, it should be to brand our county waterways. This will help
us better inform the public of the work already being done,
allow us to emphasize the cultural interests of tourists and
residents, and spur development of river- and waterway-centered
events and river-facing development.
A 1923 essay in the Chippewa Valley Museum’s archival collections, perhaps written by student teacher Agnes
Thompson of Mondovi, describes an Eau Claire outing of the County Training School for teachers.
“We start from the lawn of the training school [on the west side of the Chippewa River, near where the Eau Claire
County courthouse stands in 2012] and a short walk brings us to the Chippewa bridge. We have a plat made in
1857 when the streets were first laid out. This plat shows 65 feet of good high ground between First Avenue and
the river — but now just look at it. There is no high ground there now, and the City has built a wall and rip-rap to
keep the river from washing away the street.”
Relaxing at Big Falls, Town of
Lincoln, 1924. Eau Claire County
acquired the land around Big Falls
from Seymour Cray, Jr., in the mid1960s, but it had been a scenic
attraction for decades. Courtesy of
the Chippewa Valley Museum.
Miss Thompson continues her essay, describing what she sees, and giving a history of the river's shifting course
over the past 1,000 years, illustrating it with maps and careful drawings. “The river,” she writes, “has been
writing its history during all of its life.”
Some 80 years later, in a May 21, 2004 column, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reporter Joe Knight describes a
North High School French class outing down the Chippewa River from Chippewa Falls to Riverside Park on
Eau Claire's north side. The canoe trip involved some French and some history, as well as a little biology and
hydrology, and a swarm of caddisflies (a sign of clean water).
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Overview and Analysis
Most people in Eau Claire County thoroughly enjoy the outdoors here — our parks, our waterways — even without the
cultural luxury of a formal class trip. Among our respondents, more than 87 percent see or do cultural, arts, and heritage
things at outdoor facilities or parks regularly or occasionally.
“I love the events that take advantage of the river and downtown/historic venues.”
“I love the outdoor things that we have in the summer.”
“I like to be outdoors as much as possible: bicycling, gardening, fishing, canoeing, camping, spending time by
the water.”
“There is nothing better than lying on the lush grass of Phoenix Park, licking a melting ice cream cone while
listening to an amazing local band...”
An aggregation of our surveying and studying tells us that outoors and waterways is the top concern of our respondents.
The Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers converge in the heart of the City of Eau Claire. The Chippewa River is one of
Wisconsin’s most important Mississippi River tributaries. Two reservoirs on the Eau Claire River, Lake Altoona and
Lake Eau Claire, anchor county parks.
Dells Pond was used during the logging era to collect and sort logs before they were floated to sawmills downriver in
Eau Claire. An ancient oxbow of the Chippewa River, Half Moon Lake sits on the west side of the city. Artificially
reconnected to the Chippewa River by a log flume and tunnel during the lumbering era, the water level in this lake is now
supplemented by pumping.
Five creeks run into these two rivers near the City of Eau Claire: Sherman Creek rises in the Town of Union and serves
a large watershed on the western edge of Eau Claire. Travis Creek and Lowes Creek, both in the Town of Brunswick,
meet the Chippewa River downstream of the city. Otter Creek runs from south to north on the eastern side of Eau Claire
and forms part of the boundary between the Cities of Eau Claire and Altoona. Little Niagara Creek winds through the
Putnam Park gorge and discharges near the UW–Eau Claire campus.
Several plans by the City of Eau Claire have guided land use and public improvements along the rivers, lake and creeks
in the past 40 years. Each has built on a previous plan and advanced the community’s thinking about the use of the river
corridors. But the 1988 Waterways Plan became the foundation for all subsequent discussion including current (2011)
public discussion of a proposed Waterways Plan.
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In 1988, the community embraced the idea that the city should strive over a long time frame to acquire a band of public
land, paths and access points known as the Greenway along or near the waterways. Industrial use of the waterfronts
was acknowledged but given lower priority than public access, recreation, other economic development, neighborhood
quality and environmental protection. Improved water quality and riparian ecosystems were honored as essential public
obligations. Land redevelopment and economic progress were linked to more sensitive use of the river edges for the first
time in Eau Claire.
Where are we now?
The 1988 Waterways Plan included an ambitious menu of future public improvements and land redevelopment projects.
Most of those projects have been completed. The most important were the extension of riverfront paths in many locations
and the redevelopment of the contaminated Phoenix Manufacturing factory and site.
Water quality has improved in the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers to the point that tubing and fishing have become
popular summertime escapes; Phoenix Park has risen from the ashes of an industrial plant at the confluence; downtown
redevelopment proposals are now orienting housing, offices and hospitality to face the water; a recent neighborhood
revitalization plan hinges on transforming a mile of disused riverfront to park and trail.
Where could we be?
As residents and tourists fish, canoe, splash, or meander, we can help them understand intuitively that the economic and
cultural history of Eau Claire County is closely tied to its rivers. The rivers brought people here, brought our particular
wildlife here, brought lumber here for milling. They have powered industries,
and they produce electricity. Waterways bring tourists, and entertain and enrich
residents. This deepens their attachment to this place.
Respondents to Good Life surveys widely noted that they believe the City
of Eau Claire and Eau Claire County — as well as the area’s businesses and
residents — too often ignore our waterways, which respondents see as key
signifiers of our local identity. For numbers of respondents, comments about
what they see as “missing” or “worst” about Eau Claire County emphasize this.
What’s missing?
“Eau Claire needs an overlook on a river or lake that is located in the
city center that allows for food, wine and music.”
“The Eau Claire River is beautiful and untapped. Look at San Antonio!
What would happen if there was a ‘River Mall’ that spanned the river
with cafes and restaurants and meeting rooms that actually span
the river? I realize the DNR positions on such a structure would
be inhibitive, but it could be a unique and vital part of the cultural
attraction for Eau Claire.”
What’s worst?
“The riverfront! All downtown and Water St. buildings face away from the rivers and the backs of the
buildings are mostly waste land. Make it attractive, and people will come and hang out.”
“Plants along river trails need to be trimmed back so one can see the river.”
“The worst would be how we’ve treated the river and downtown”
Ready to launch a float at Phoenix
Park, June 2011. Photo by Shane
Opatz. Courtesy of the Eau Claire
Leader-Telegram.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 11
Our waterways will also play a crucial role in economic development if we make them the focus of efforts to enhance
quality of life, recreation, and a sense of place. Those factors attract the creative class.
A major element in the process of rediscovering the value of the rivers will be to rethink the use of nearby land. Beyond
the protected floodplains and backwater estuaries, many critical, long-term decisions will have to be made that balance
natural protection, recreation, visual access and economic development. Every bank of every waterway must be carefully
evaluated for its use as public space, housing, or business. The economic value of the waterways is now derived from
not just historic activities such as power generation, manufacturing and extraction but — perhaps more importantly —
contemporary benefits such as viewing, playing, and appreciating.
Benefits of moving toward this more enlightened use of the waterways include improved neighborhood conditions,
increased redevelopment potential and increased property values, economic development attracted by improved quality
of life and desirable building sites, opportunities for active and passive recreation; increased local spending by people
coming to enjoy the rivers, a more walkable and bikable city, and, preservation and enhancement of natural and historic
sites. According to a draft-version of the document itself, preparation of the new Waterways Plan will be guided by these
“major issues” (among many others):
• Views: Should some riverbank vegetation be cleared to improve views to the water?
• Public Access: Should there be public access to the waterfront whenever feasible, including access adjacent to private
land redevelopment? Should stairs be built to improve public access down the bluffs to the water?
• Water Access: What should be done to improve access to the water for recreationalists including anglers, boaters, and
tubers? Should additional boat launches and fishing piers be built? If so, where?
• Redevelopment: Should the City actively promote redevelopment of deteriorated, under-utilized or incompatible
properties near the waterways to leverage these resources and public investments?
• Pedestrian Bridge: Should a pedestrian bridge be built over the Eau Claire River near the confluence?
• Rails to Trails: Should additional former railroad corridors be re-purposed as multi-use paths?
• Other Paths: When and how should a multi-use path be extended around Half Moon Lake?
• Water Safety: What should the City do to improve the safety of tubers and other river users?
Strategies
Strategy 1. Brand our county waterways in a consistent, attractive campaign through news,
public relations, signage, web presence, and other public information opportunities. Not only will this promote use and
appreciation, but it will also help inform county residents of the waterways and recreational planning already occurring.
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What problem does this solve? Tremendous work has been done for decades on many aspects of county and city
waterways, both environmental and recreational. Much more discussion and work is underway. Many respondents seem
not to know of this work.
Steps to take:
• Compile a short but compelling list of current activities, planned efforts, and upcoming discussions related to city and
county waterways, especially as they relate to the cultural interests of residents and visitors. This can be done on a
regular basis. Local media can get this news out.
• We can start and sustain public discussions about what’s going on vis a vis our waterways. The Chippewa Valley
Museum can give an historical context to the discussions: How did we use our rivers in the past? What were the
effects? How have we used them more recently?
Models:
The River Thames Alliance (yes, that River Thames) has set up a marketing group to pool resources and develop
coordinated actions to promote the river. The group is a partnership of private and public sector organizations including
trade associations, local authorities, and attractions. The Discover the River Thames campaign coordinates leaflets,
posters, a website and public relations with simple, focused images and messages, free from competing individual partner
logos. The marketing provides ideas for days out and healthy things to do on and alongside the river.
Pennsylvania ‘River of the Year’: Since 1983, a Pennsylvania River of the Year has been featured on posters sent to
watershed organizations, local municipalities and interested individuals statewide to encourage a focus on Pennsylvania’s
rivers. June Rivers Month activities draw attention to the importance of river resources. An annual River Sojourn consists
of traveling on the river by raft, canoe and kayak, and by bicycling on river-corridor trails. Educational programs focus on
environmental, historical and cultural aspects of, and new perspectives on, the river and its surroundings.
Strategy 2. Implement one river-centered event annually. Foster development of seasonal
river-centered events.
What problem does this solve? It doesn’t seem like enough just to have an event with one of our scenic
waterways as a backdrop. If they are critical to our understanding of ourselves as a community and area, we should
incorporate them, honor them.
Step to take: Create events not just set on Half Moon Lake or the Chippewa River, but in some way about them.
Models:
WaterFire, Providence, RI: Providence’s signature event is WaterFire, a fire sculpture installation on the three rivers in
downtown Providence. WaterFire centers on a series of 100 bonfires that blaze just above the surface of the three rivers
that pass through downtown Providence. The string of fires illuminates nearly two-thirds of a mile of urban public spaces
and parks, and residents and visitors gather to stroll along the river, listening to the music and watching the performances.
Black-clad performers in boats passing quietly before the flames tend the fires from sunset to midnight.
Winter River Festival, Louisiana, MO: The festival offers craft demonstrations, music, wine and beer tastings, barbecue
and rib competitions, and a Special Olympics Polar Plunge. It wraps up with the spectacular House of Fire and Ice
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 13
at dusk. Volunteers, citizens and businesses alike come together to build a fortress of ice blocks towering 15 feet tall,
weighing nearly six tons and filled with a huge pile of scrap lumber. When darkness falls the House of Fire and Ice is set
ablaze. The melting water drenches the sides, and leaping flames send shooting sparks high into the air. The battle waged
between fire and ice continues for hours.
Strategy 3. Assure that all waterways, parks, and outdoor recreation plans incorporate the
cultural interests of residents and visitors.
The Mill Museum, near Augusta on
the Eau Claire River.
What problem does this solve? There are many ways to include a cultural understanding and appreciation of the
city and county as we think about our waterways. First, understand what people do there as cultural expressions there on
days when there is no special event like a newly developed WaterFire or the like — that is, what people on a daily basis
(fish, canoe, picnic, tube, bike, walk, read, gather, doze, visit a museum on the banks of the Eau Claire River or Half
Moon Lake). Then acknowledge those expressions, and link individual activities to the larger community.
Steps to take:
• Continue marking trails, sites, and scenic locations with interesting, attractive markers that
tie the view to the area’s culture and heritage.
• Make put-in spots for tubers and canoeists.
• Create scenic gathering spots for weddings, reunions, and the like.
• Plan overlooks or stopping points at places where people might best consider some aspect
of the history of the waterway and the county, or past efforts individuals have made to tame,
use, or improve a particular waterway.
Models:
Phoenix Park Markers, Eau Claire: This collaboration between the Chippewa Valley Museum,
the Eau Claire Parks and Recreation Department, and private funders created a series of plaques
(in progress; some still to be funded) that take full advantage of their location:
14 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
“Eau Claire does not have a distinctive identity/story that makes it unique. This is
vital to a feeling of community: not to mention to boost tourism dollars, etc. A good
start towards addressing this problem began with Phoenix Park -- the plaques with
the quotes re: E.C. History. Also, recently, the River Plaque that was recovered and
erected off the River Trail. E.C. needs to know and celebrate its own history, instead of
just looking outside of itself to see ‘what everyone else is doing’ I think that this has
been a problem for a long time and makes living here seem disconnected, transient,
and not rooted in anything. As I mentioned, recent changes (also, Farmers Market,
downtown area, recovery/restoration of historic buildings, etc.) have begun to make a
difference and give E.C. a feeling of community--but it must continue!”
River Mills Heritage Trail, Putnam, Conn.: The trail threads its way around the Quinebaug River, linking together six
historic mills and two other historic buildings. Follow the brown Trail Directional Signs leading from one site along the
Trail to another. Stop at each site and read its historic marker to learn more. It’s an easy, level walk or bike ride with good
views of several of the dams and falls along the river.
Strategy 4. As we continue developing and changing Eau Claire
County’s cities, villages, and other settlements, planners should
emphasize that considered, sustainable development should “face
the rivers,” and that waterways should be part of the fabric of
public life in the County.
Models:
Munich has grown around the River Isar and the waterway has played an important
part of the shaping of the city. At the beginning of the 1990s, the Bavarian State and the
city of Munich decided on a major restructuring plan for the river. The aim of the Isar
Plan was to optimize flood control and improve urban recreational quality by providing
“more space and greater proximity to nature in the river environment.”
The Isar offers fishing and floating. Next to the Englischer Garten parkland it is even
possible to surf on the river: a permanent wave in the southern part of the park forms
where the river’s waters shoot from an underground tunnel.
The San Antonio River Walk (also known as Paseo del Río) is a network of walkways
along the banks of the San Antonio River, one level down from the automobile street,
lined with restaurants and shops. It connects the major tourist draws from the Alamo to
Rivercenter mall, to the Arneson River Theatre, to Marriage Island, to the San Antonio
Museum of Art, and the Pearl Brewery. During the annual springtime Fiesta San
Antonio, the River Parade features flowery floats sent down the river.
Other examples: Chicago Riverwalk; Milwaukee RiverWalk; Grand Rounds National
Scenic Byway, Minneapolis; Bricktown, Oklahoma City; Three Rivers Heritage Trail,
Pittsburgh; Tom McCall Waterfront Loop, Portland, Ore.; River Street, Savannah.
Key Resources
Reading: Haslam, S. M. The River Scene: Ecology and Cultural Heritage. Cambridge University Press, 2009
Relevant plans after the 1988 Waterways Plan include the Eau Claire Comprehensive Plan, 1992; Eau Claire
Comprehensive Plan, 2005; West Clairemont Avenue Educational and Medical District Plan, 2009; Eau Claire Bicycle
and Pedestrian Facility Plan, 2010; West Riverside District Plan, 2010.
Eau Claire Chapter, Daughters of
the American Revolution, at the
dedication of the marker at the Gray
Street steamboat landing,
September 19, 1927. Courtesy of the
Chippewa Valley Museum.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 15
Economic Development
• Attracting and keeping a highly educated, creative workforce in Eau Claire
County is necessary for knowledge-based industries.
• The creative economy needs a positive environment with spaces and places
where its people want to live and work. Many Eau Claire County residents
understand this need and understand that we’ve made progress towards it.
• A creative environment takes creative thinking. If we want to succeed in
this, we will make a place that creative people want to be, and we will
encourage interest and enterprises based on our arts and culture strengths.
Mayo Health System, CCU and
Healing Garden. AECom.
Photo: Don F. Wong
In an interview April 4, 2011, former Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton told Expose Kenosha editor Colleen
Kappeler that “New businesses look for a place that is supportive of the innovations they need and has a strong
cultural heart beat.”
“Lawton points to Eau Claire,” Kappeler wrote from Kenosha, “where in 2009, during the worst moment of
economic downturn, two high-tech businesses from New York City relocated there with the promise of 200 high
paying jobs because they were confident they’d attract the workers they needed because of Eau Claire’s cultural
resources.”
Overview and analysis
Economic development focuses on the well-being of local economies — the success of existing businesses and the
creation of new enterprises. Worldwide, contemporary economic development thinking has turned to the possibilities and
needs of the creative economy. This economic interest is very broad in scope.
16 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
The idea of the creative economy—which is based not just in the arts, but in all enterprises that require creative
approaches—and its potential benefits for communities emerged over the past few decades. The creative economy
requires knowledge workers, whose efforts thrive in a nearby mix of places — studios, production facilities and gathering
places. Because these places foster interactions between people, the mix is important to spark new ideas. The ability to
attract and keep such people is important to many areas of economic endeavor.
Cultural planning and support for cultural resources contribute to development of a creative economy. The
Good Life initiative has adopted a broad view of local culture and its connection to our economy. An on-going Knight
Foundation study about attachment to place has repeatedly found that surveyed communities’ social offerings, openness,
aesthetics, and education are, in that order, most likely to influence residents’ attachment to their communities
in 2010. The communities with the highest levels of attachment had the highest rates of gross domestic product growth.
When residents enjoy their community’s offerings, they are more likely to spend their money on local activities and
businesses, directly benefiting the local economy.
Where are we now?
It’s already happening in Wisconsin….
Food Processing industries. The Farm Market Kitchen in Algoma [www.farmmarketkitchen.com] is “a regional shareduse food processing business incubator. Anyone wishing to produce and market a food product can find everything they
need to get started—from culinary supplies and equipment to food marketing and business planning assistance.” Part of a
national phenomenon, other Wisconsin culinary incubators are located in Appleton, Gays Mills, Lake Mills, Milwaukee,
Niagara, Prairie du Chien and Watertown.
Arts Industries grow from Local Culture Wormfarm Institute in Reedsburg [wormfarminstitute.org] uses the term
“cultureshed” to reflect unique influences that characterize local culture: the products grown in an area reflect its unique
geography, geology and micro-climate. The Wormfarm Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit working to build a sustainable
future for agriculture and the arts by fostering vital links between people and the land [through] performances and
other projects that engage the surrounding community, utilize the talents of local artists and speak to rural experience.”
Wormfarm recently received a $50,000 National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant to support the planning,
piloting, and evaluation of guided and self-led tours along rural roads in northern Sauk County, featuring farm-based,
ephemeral art installations and performances; artist-designed-and-built mobile farm stands; and interpretative signage
about rural culture and the local arts, food, and farming communities.
Culture Combines with Other Disciplines Bucketworks, Milwaukee [bucketworks.org]. According to its director, James
Carlson, Bucketworks is designed as a place where “Members with skills in science and technology, business, law,
finance, the arts and health would meet to discuss and share their skills. There are just as many tools for the engineeringminded person as there are for the artistically inclined. Bucketworks has a huge performance event and class space with
a theater stage and movable walls; a large room equipped with computers, a pottery wheel, sewing machines, easels and
other tools for creativity; an on-site supply store with a staff-operated woodshop, kiln, stockpile of supplies, and a lending
library; and, a retail floor space and art gallery to showcasework.
Private and public investments in performance venues (in under-utilized churches, for example) and spaces for creative
work can connect universities to their surrounding communities, create more “street life,” and encourage small
commercial establishments to move into the neighborhoods.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 17
It’s starting to happen in Eau Claire County
Artist studios and related businesses in Banbury Place
Local food entrepreneurs developing products for the Farmers Market (Haas
Brothers, Becki’s Salsa, Obsession Chocolate).
These activities have other positives for the community as a whole:
“I enjoy Eau Claire's (and Wisconsin's) abundance of locally grown agriculture
and livestock. We have many options for buying local and organic food. This is
a cultural movement centered around food, but also around values attached
to living sustainably.”
“I'd love to see Banbury Place promoted more heavily. The open house held the
last year or the year before was wonderful! It was great to see the diversity
of folks renting art space there.”
Banbury Art Crawl 2012. Photo by
Jessica Harrison for Volume One.
Where could we be?
By developing rather than decreasing community support, the Eau Claire area can foster “creative places” that result in
economic benefits.
… Whether approached as industries (what cultural firms make), occupations (what cultural workers do), or a set of
organizations (producing firms, non-profit, public agencies and community groups), the arts and cultural sector is the
nation’s most under-rated economic engine, producing millions of well-paying jobs. It is our most competitive sector.
Many nations are challenging American science and engineering prowess, but few successfully do so in visual arts, a
diverse music portfolio, digital media, design, and writing, from literature to screenplays and news. [Although recent
testing for creativity shows American children have been slipping from their traditional high performance in this area.]
Many small towns, aging suburbs, and deteriorating city neighborhoods have revitalized their economies by expanding
arts and cultural services that offer residents opportunities to spend their discretionary income locally.
Markusen, Gadwa, Creative Placemaking
Strategies
Strategy 1. Support places where creative individuals want to be and can interact.
What problem does this solve?
18 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Attracting and keeping a highly educated workforce is necessary for knowledge-based industries. The creative economy
in particular needs a positive environment with spaces and places its people want to live and work. In their voluntary
comments, respondents to Eau Claire County Good Life surveys indicated that they understand this need and that we have
made progress towards it:
“I grew up in Eau Claire and left 25 years ago after college and returned 7 years ago. … I was pleasantly
surprised to see a tremendous amount of growth and development, especially in the downtown area. On
many weekends now there is something to do that is worth doing - everything from the farmer's market to
festivals and art shows. I would love to see more of it brought in and supported by the community.”
“One thing I've noticed, having grown up in Eau Claire and now living there as a young adult, is the alarming
lack of fun, non-bar-related nightlife. … I feel like at night there are only three options: go out drinking at
the bars, go see a movie or stay at home. We have a lot of young, hip people
in EC that would probably love to have another option--and that's just one
demographic. There are people of all ages and backgrounds who I think really
would like to see a more vibrant nightlife in Eau Claire. Really, I just want to keep
our awesome progress going! In the last five years or so, Eau Claire has changed
from a city that I wanted to get away from into a city that I can barely stand to
leave. Amazing!!!”
“I really admire the amount of activities that go on in Phoenix Park. Until the park
was created, there seemed to be few places that could be such good meeting
places for farmer's markets and other local gatherings….”
“Our local music scene is to die for and there is nothing better than lying on the
lush grass of Phoenix Park, licking a melting ice cream cone while listening to an
amazing local band every Thursday. Magic.”
On the flip side, our respondents also see many more possibilities:
“Innovation/creative endeavors seem to be initiated by transplants to EC. Still
an overwhelming tendency among EC leadership to resist a contemporary sensibility that would ignite and
sustain creativity and creative solutions. Conservative stronghold defeats real creative enterprises time
and again - especially with regard to the arts and cultural expression, be it through programming and
events, facility development or commitment toward real improvement in these areas. Phoenix Park is great,
but it doesn't end there.”
One of Eau Claire’s oldest multi-use
districts — Water Street.
Photo from Wisconsin Dairy News.
1.1. Start with Cultural Mapping so we know what we have now. Cultural Mapping uses very broad definitions
of cultural resources. Inventory all resources that contribute to regional identity, history and culture.
“[there’s] a lot already to do.” “...we all come from small towns. My town is 1,200 people, his town is 2,500,
and his town is 3,500, so we all come from towns where there’s nothing.” [from a focus-group discussion]
1.2. Work on Winter. Many Good Life respondents commented on their attachment to a summer with cultural
experiences weaving through a beautiful, accessible environment. In the beginning, These comments about lack of
comparable activity in winter are not merely about weather (since there are actually more cultural events in the “school
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 19
year” than in summer). They are more about the loss of places to interact culturally than about lack of activities. In this
light, comments about winter, lack of night-time activities outside of bars and lack of activities at more flexible times
seem similar.
“Need more public places to host fine arts events during winter months. The ideal public space would include
our public library, the Nucleus, State Theater, Children's Museum, and a bowling alley all under one roof.”
“The worst part of the scene is that there are not many spaces for art galleries, concerts or other events.
In my opinion, this is why the summer is so much more active (due to outdoor spaces being utilized). The
fact that bars do not allow underagers, even when wristband policies have worked in every other city in
America, is absurd and I feel as though I have missed out on much of the arts and culture scene due to
this.”
Approximately 1,000 people jumped
into the icy waters of Half Moon
Lake Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011 during
the 12th annual Polar Plunge in
Eau Claire. The event was expected
to raise nearly $100,000 for
Indianhead Area Special Olympics.
Photo by Steve Kinderman, courtesy
of the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
“There are very few opportunities geared towards people between 25 and 35. Everything is focused on
older people, those with children, or college kids. There are very few adult-oriented events found elsewhere,
books & bars (book club meeting at a bar), policy and a pint, salsa dancing, events occurring after 7 pm
on a weeknight-some of us have to work, and need some time to get somewhere before it starts, anything
happening on a weeknight really in the winter time.”
1.3. Develop (or add) to the criteria for receiving public support (room tax funding, County
Ec. Dev. Funding) for cultural venues and programming as an acknowledgement of the significant role
that cultural and natural venues and programming play in attracting and keeping creative class individuals as builders of
our local economy.
1.4. Create opportunities for professionals, artists and cultural workers to interact, network
and/or work together like Milwaukee’s Bucketworks project (see page 17).
“[More] interconnectedness of the community of Eau Claire -- our city's design and urban plan seems to
encourage separation rather than co-mingling, though there are some positive signs in terms of the bike
paths and downtown renewal.”
Strategy 2. Encourage interest and enterprises based on our arts and cultural strengths.
2.1. Foster food industries based on local products and markets. Consider a culinary incubator to take
food ideas emerging in the farmer’s market farther and providing better support for such enterprises year round.
Steps to take:
• Make use of the City’s Chippewa Valley Innovation Center to facilitate this idea — http://www.eauclairedevelopment.
com/doing_business/cvic.html — or propose something new and similar to them.
• Copy the Algoma Farm Market Kitchen model at Banbury Place – include Eau Claire Area Economic Development
20 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Corporation’s Idea Challenge program, Farmers’ Market, CVTC Hospitality/Restaurant programs, UWEC
Entrepreneur Marketing Business Programs.
2.2. Support potential for growth of music industry. One respondent described Eau Claire County
as having a “deep culture of music (G35)...” Whatever kind of music interested our respondents, whatever their
demographic, nearly all had some kind of involvement in music. Our music cultures foster community attachment,
some break-outs like Justin Vernon or Geoffrey Keezer, and the possibility of supporting industries or industries that
require workers with creative capabilities and skills. Production and performance foster both other business/ employment
opportunities and create “third places” and gathering spots where common interests can be developed and shared.
Survey comments about the need for more high-quality performance venues of various sizes and better gallery space
(all unprompted, as we did not ask about facilities) and concern about loss of arts education programs in schools
indicate that there is more that can be done on a community level to encourage this area.
Steps to take:
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, on the
cover of Billboard, May 28, 2011.
• Investigate what else needs to happen to encourage the recording studios and studio space that mature artists need.
• Develop coursework at the University level for surviving as an artist.
2.3. Investigate other disciplines (such as fine art, folk art, writing and publishing, or others)
for potential comparable to this.
Key Resources
Creative Placemaking, Ann Markusen, Markusen Economic Research Services and Anne Gadwa, Metris Arts
Consulting, 2010.White paper for The Mayors’ Institute on City Design, a leadership initiative of the National
Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors and American Architectural
Foundation.
Geoffrey Keezer’s CD Falling Up,
Maxx Jazz Piano Series, 2003.
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Report 2010 – Soul of the Community: Why People Love Where They Live and
Why It Matters: A National Perspective.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 21
Looking north toward the corner
of Eau Claire and South Barstow
Streets, downtown Eau Claire, 1907.
Courtesy of the Chippewa Valley
Museum.
Downtown
“People will come downtown IF there is something to come down for.” 1979
“Downtown Eau Claire needs work, but it is our greatest opportunity.” 2011
• Eau Claire County has more than one downtown, as Augusta and Fall
Creek are proud to report. But for more than 130 years, through its ups and
downs, downtown Eau Claire has seemed to both County and City residents
as the main engine of Eau Claire County’s governmental and commercial
life, and as the heart of the county’s cultural identity.
• People like downtown Eau Claire, and they think it has problems. This has
long been true.
• As we move forward, we should capitalize on the unique identity
of downtown Eau Claire, built on the confluence of two scenic and
historically interesting rivers, to bring about social and economic change
– the change residents are still clamoring for over three decades after the
downtown revitalization efforts began in Eau Claire.
The vintage photograph — almost faded away, its clarity recovered through digital-age magic — looks north on
Barstow Street as an elaborate circus parade makes the turn from Eau Claire Street toward the photographer.
Children line the street gutters, their grown-ups standing close behind, while a team of eight horses pulls an
ornate circus wagon brimming with band members. Two streetcar tracks run down the middle of the wide, cobble
brick street. The tower of the old City Auditorium is visible beyond the Chippewa Valley Bank (Stone’s Throw
Building) and across the river. A family observes the goings-on from their second-story window.
22 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Awnings and hanging signs create a canopy above the sidewalks filled with pedestrians. This bevy of signs rides
the air advertising The Cleveland Bicycle shop, a drugstore, a dentist’s office. It’s Tuesday, July 30, 1907, and
downtown Eau Claire is bustling.
Overview and analysis
While Eau Claire County has four municipalities with downtown business districts, respondents to our county-wide
survey overwhelmingly identified Downtown Eau Claire as the heart of cultural life in Eau Claire County.
Downtown Eau Claire thrived as the civic and economic center of
the city from the 1890s through the mid 20th century. Downtown’s
decline as the economic center of Eau Claire began in the late 1960s, as
suburbanization became a national trend in community growth.
Downtown revitalization efforts began alongside its decline, and as early
as 1976 with the opening of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
The City of Eau Claire began directly addressing downtown in its
broad planning documents with the 1980 Eau Claire Central Business
District Plan. A series of plans addressing various aspects of downtown
followed, punctuated by the 1993 Physical Survey of Downtown Eau
Claire and 1994 Comprehensive Urban Design Plan for Downtown Eau
Claire by the Eau Claire Main Street Association, Inc.
Where are we now?
In 2001, efforts to reclaim downtown culminated with HyettPalma, Inc.’s study of downtown and subsequent publication
of the Eau Claire Downtown Action Agenda 2001. After consulting with City staff, conducting market analyses, and
surveying members of the public and private sectors of Eau Claire, a vision for Downtown Eau Claire emerged. The
Action Agenda proposed that “by the year 2007, Downtown Eau Claire would be filled with lots of people, be attractive
in winter and summer, boast historic buildings and interesting architecture, be filled with a variety of things to do -- such
as dining, arts, specialty stores, and family-oriented destinations -- and it would be ‘alive after five’.”
The Action Agenda directly contributed to the development of Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. (DECI) in 2002. DECI is “a
non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the development of business, housing, cultural resources, and activities
within Downtown Eau Claire.”
The vacant lot at center, corner of
Farwell and Gibson Streets, is the
site of the former YMCA building,
demolished in 1960. All of the
buildings pictured here are gone.
The first three from left, owned
by Hobbs Supply, were torn down
to make way for the L.E. Phillips
Memorial Public Library. The Soo
Line building, at far right, was
torn down in 1997. Courtesy of the
Chippewa Valley Museum.
The 2005 Eau Claire Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the City Council on September 27, 2005, will guide the City’s
decisions about long-term growth and physical development of the Eau Claire community through 2025. The 2005
Downtown Plan section “is a guide for the major public and private investments that need to be made over the next
twenty years to ensure the continued economic and civic revitalization of the downtown.” The plan’s recommendations
focus on “the transformation of the downtown into a multi-functional town center active both day and night, seven days a
week.” Specifically, the goal is to “re-establish the Downtown as a regional mixed-use activity center integrating civic and
government uses, professional and corporate offices, health care, meeting and entertainment facilities, arts and culture,
housing, and specialty retail.”
As with the Action Agenda, the City’s Comprehensive Plan development process includes input from the community.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 23
Preliminary design plan of
Haymarket Plaza, Eau Claire
Downtown Riverfront District.
Drawing by Ayres Associates.
A Citizens Advisory Committee, appointed in 2003 by the City Council, advised plan developers through a series of
discussions culminating in a draft plan submitted to the Plan Commission.
At the county level, comprehensive planning is focused primarily on land use and development. Though Eau Claire
County’s Comprehensive Plan 2010-2030 does not directly address Downtown Eau Claire, a series of comprehensive
plans for the villages, towns and cities of Eau Claire County outline provisions for their downtowns as applicable. The
comprehensive plans for the Cities of Augusta and Altoona
and the Village of Fall Creek, for instance, each propose to
prepare a Downtown Revitalization Plan with assistance from
the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning
Program. A preliminary study of each community would
“identify specific redevelopment opportunities, provide
concepts for the use and design of new development, identify
streetscape improvements, and offer specific implementation
strategies.”
While not extensive in their provisions regarding downtown
vitality, the Eau Claire County Comprehensive Plan and
plans for communities within the County do make specific
recommendations to “preserve and enhance the quality of
life for the current and future residents” and “protect and
reinforce the community character” of each community.
Research and discussion at the national level over the last
two decades suggests identifying and utilizing community
character - local culture and identity - is the key to restoring a community’s vitality. In The Creative Community Builder’s
Handbook, Tom Borrup defines creative community building as being “more than installing or building a creative
economy,” asserting that “finding the broader identity of place and connecting people across sectors” is central to success.
In studying what made Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood such an early, successful creative community, Richard Lloyd
found “the cumulative texture of local urban culture is something that elite efforts alone cannot produce,” and that “the
historically embedded culture of cities [becomes] raw material in new productive process.” It seemed communities need
to “capitalize on what makes them unique,” foster a sense of community ownership and pride, and use local culture as
a catalyst for downtown revitalization. While Eau Claire County has worked to connect local culture with community
transformation efforts, the results of our survey suggest more work could be done.
Where could we be?
Respondents to The Good Life survey essentially see that Downtown Eau Claire is improving, but they want more.
24 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Only one question on The Good Life survey directly asked respondents about Downtown Eau Claire: “Please indicate the
degree to which you agree with the following statements ... A vibrant arts district in the downtown city of Eau Claire is
important." 87% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed.
Narrative responses to open-ended questions throughout the survey fill in the rest of the story.
Responses to a three-part question – “What is best about Eau Claire cultural life? What’s worst? What’s missing?”
– resulted in a range of comments regarding Downtown Eau Claire, including:
“Downtown is the best - I hope it continues to grow with variety in shops, people, dining, [and]
entertainment choices.”
“Downtown is the biggest host of cultural life, I think.”
“More development and things to do downtown”
Narrative survey responses to a number of questions and prompts suggest that while some respondents like what they’ve
been seeing and experiencing downtown recently, they see room for improvements. Some comments directly indicate this:
“The best thing about Eau Claire cultural life is the revitalization of downtown.”
“Pairing recovery of traditional downtown centers with cultural assets and activities (need to keep this up).”
“Downtown coming back is important and needs to remain a focus.”
“Downtown Eau Claire needs work, but it is our greatest opportunity”
Respondents directly called for improvements to downtown. Four broad areas of
concern emerge from the survey comments:
• Access/transportation to and around downtown – for drivers, pedestrians,
cyclists. Wayfinding aids.
• Aesthetics/appeal – less shabby and deserted, more inviting
• More destinations – arts district, entertainment venues, parks, restaurants
• More variety – in businesses, things to do
Respondents to the survey for cultural organizations consistently referred to
needed development and improvements when referencing Downtown Eau Claire. For example, when asked “What
cultural developments do you believe would be most helpful in advancing local creativity and innovation?” folks at two
organizations responded:
“Re-vitalization of downtown. Student connection to downtown.”
“Continued and increased significant investment in downtown’s quality of place.”
When asked “If your organization could preserve three things about Eau Claire’s cultural scene, what would they be and
why?” folks at three organizations responded “downtown”:
“Continued downtown development - Phoenix Park, Farmers Market, Water Street.”
“Development of downtown & riverfront”
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 25
Overall Strategy
Capitalize on the unique identity of our community to bring about social and economic change – the change residents are
still clamoring for over three decades after downtown revitalization efforts began in Eau Claire.
What problem does this solve?
Other than a few comments lamenting the negative aspects of urban sprawl and a clear interest in the outdoors,
survey respondents didn’t comment about any other locale as much as downtown. So much unsolicited attention and
consideration from survey respondents — no matter where in Eau Claire County they themselves live — suggests the
importance of Downtown Eau Claire to the cultural life of the city and county.
Interestingly, the mix of praise and concern expressed by survey respondents is comprehensive yet not unfamiliar.
Essentially, the survey respondents’ collective list of assets and needs regarding downtown reads like those of the Action
Agenda 2001 and 2005 Downtown Plan. The gap between the public’s vision for downtown and existing planning
presents two opportunities for improvement: There is much yet to be done downtown, and people are not aware of the
work currently underway.
Strategy 1. Use our unique community identity to increase public awareness of and
participation in downtown revitalization efforts.
1.1. Enable citizen engagement that isn’t reactive. Foster a sense of ownership among citizens around our
community identity (something people can identify with and connect to) – “It’s my downtown” – and set up entry points
for citizen involvement.
A step to take: Build on DECI’s Idea Lounge series and committees and ECASD’s “Board with your Coffee?” with
opportunities for regular public discussion through civic engagement committees (like Clear Vision), City + citizens
meetings, open online dialogue, “State of the Downtown” report.
1.2. Launch an awareness campaign to get the public up to speed.
A step to take: Utilize the DECI website and Downtown, Ink as the hub; more regular coverage by other media outlets
(beyond print).
Model: Hope Community, Inc. Children’s Village and Peavey Park Designs, Minneapolis, Minnesota. www.hopecommunity.org. In the Phillips neighborhood of 20,000 residents, Hope Community, Inc. acquired concrete results from
a community visioning dialogue process. The community development corporation launched a Listening Project in 1997,
holding dialogue groups that ultimately deepened the organization’s understanding of the neighborhood and its residents.
A series of creative workshops led directly to the development of a community park design.
26 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Strategy 2. Leverage our unique community identity to continue efforts to improve
downtown’s infrastructure and economy. Support Downtown Eau Claire as a center of
cultural life for the City and County of Eau Claire.
2.1. Ensure cultural elements of existing plans for the City and County remain a priority and
are accomplished. Contribute cultural-sector recommendations wherever downtown improvements are discussed at
the City and County levels.
A step to take: Create an umbrella coalition of cultural organizations to
ensure the consideration of cultural sector interests in future comprehensive
planning efforts.
2.2. Foster and maintain a vibrant cultural district in
Downtown Eau Claire for residents and visitors.
A step to take: Build connections among existing cultural assets
downtown.
Model: ACT Roxbury and Madison Park Development Corporation, Boston,
Mass. www.actroxbury.org, www.madison-park.org. The Lower Roxbury/
Dudley Square area (population 41,000) CDC built on the cultural assets of
the neighborhood to transform its image and develop a more diverse economy.
Key Resources
Tom Borrup with Partners for Livable Communities. The Creative Community Builder’s Handbook: How to Transform
Communities Using Local Assets, Art, and Culture. Saint Paul: Fieldstone Alliance, 2006.
City of Eau Claire. “2005 Eau Claire Comprehensive Plan.” 2005.
Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. “What is DECI?” http://www.downtowneauclaire.org/about-us/about-Deci.php, 2011.
HyettPalma, Inc. “Eau Claire Downtown Action Agenda 2001.” 2001.
Lloyd, Richard. “Neo-Bohemia: Art and Neighborhood Redevelopment in Chicago.” Journal of Urban Affairs, Vol. 24,
No. 5, 2002.
Grammy-nominated Eau Claire
blues musician James Solberg plays
a Back Stage Concert at the Eau
Claire Regional Arts Center in
downtown Eau Claire. This concert
series takes place behind the curtain
of the main auditorium. Photo by
Nick Meyer for Volume One.
MSA Professional Services, Inc. with assistance from West Central Planning Commission and Eau Claire County
Planning & Development Department. “City of Augusta Comprehensive Plan 2009-2030.”
Rypkema, Donovan D. “Elements of Success in Downtown Revitalization.” National Endowment for the Arts The
Mayor’s Institute Excellence in City Design. Washington, DC, 2002
University of Wisconsin-Extension; University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Fritz Sauer, Community Development
Specialist. “A Comparison of Preferences for Downtown Development Between Merchants and Consumers: Eau Claire,
Wisconsin.” September, 1979.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 27
Full moon over the Chippewa River. Courtesy of
Dan Thompson, photographer, www.TheSideStreet.com
Tourism
• Eau Claire County can enhance tourism by becoming a destination for Cultural and
Heritage Tourism. To do this, Eau Claire County must represent Eau Claire County
and not just someplace beautiful and nice.
• Highlighting key aspects of local culture helps tourism to broaden the local economic
base and build community pride. But to succeed, we must define culture very broadly,
including what would have been termed in the past as “high” and “low” culture.
• Preparing Eau Claire County to take advantage of cultural tourism is straightforward
enough. Create broad community understanding of cultural and heritage tourism.
Understand what we have. Understand our “Quality of Place.” Develop a Partnership
for Cultural and Heritage Tourism. Develop Eau Claire County as a cultural and
heritage tourism destination.
According to his obituary, Ernest “Pete” Seymour, age 84, of Eau Claire
passed away peacefully at Dove Healthcare September 1st, 2011.
He had graduated in engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign,
in 1951. In 1957 he completed his master's in structural engineering. His
intent was to study law at UW-Madison and he'd completed all prerequisites
to attend, but he went to Eau Claire for a family visit, fell in love with the
Chippewa Valley, and decided to call it home.
Pete moved his family to Eau Claire in 1961, fifty years ago, and joined the
architectural firm of Paul, Hallbeck, and Anderson, where he immediately
began work on the design of North High School. Twenty-two years later,
along with his brother Joe and co-worker Gary Davis, Pete purchased the
firm, renaming it Seymour Davis Seymour. In 2003, at the age of 75 and a
year after his most recent award (for the "S Bridge" spanning the Eau Claire
River in downtown Eau Claire), Pete retired.
28 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Not every visit to Eau Claire County ends like this, of course, but whether
they stay one night or fifty years, tourists add vitality to the county.
Overview and Analysis
Defining Cultural and Heritage Tourism.
Cultural heritage tourism means traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories
and people of the past and present. It includes irreplaceable historic, cultural and natural resources. Challenges: Ensuring
that tourism does not destroy the very heritage that attracts visitors in the first place. … it does put demands on the
infrastructure — on roads, airport, water supplies and public services like police and fire protection.
— National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2011 Fact Sheet, www.culturalheritagetourism.org.
“[Cultural tourism] defines culture very broadly, including what would have been termed in the past as “high” and
“low” culture. This inclusive definition permits us to identify and enhance expressions of local character as well as local
interpretations of regional, national and international cultural activities and trends.… Highlighting key aspects of local
culture helps tourism to broaden the local economic base and build community pride.”
— Bray, Cultural Plan for Gananoque, Ontario
Where could we be?
Survey comments indicated resources with potential for cultural/heritage tourism. Many were in response to “What’s
Best?”:
“See the area small communities and enjoy the Amish and local cheese crafters and their tours. Like area
tourist draws such as Laura Ingalls, Eagle, Cave, Trains, etc.”
“Small town feel, strong community, familiar faces – summer in Eau Claire is pretty epic, and people who
travel away from Eau Claire fondly remember the summers (from my experience with friends who leave, and
move to big cities). This is an opportunity for tourism.”
Survey comments also indicate gaps for tourism or perceptions of gaps. These comments were in response to the questions
“What’s Worst?” or “What’s Missing?”:
“I go away from Eau Claire for big ticket events, because we do not have a good space for them here.”[Many
written comments about this.]
“We don’t have clearly defined, welcoming entrances for tourists”
“In the past few years, the Fall International Festival has become disappointing. One would expect from the
name of the event that we would be able to learn more about other cultures. Recently, it's just been more
vendors than demonstrative and educational.”
Community-Defined Festivals
Many communities create festivals as signature events for and from a specific community. Their themes are very well
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 29
defined and the concepts carried out consistently. These particular
festivals draw on resources like those we have here.
• Light in Winter: Science and the Arts. Ithaca NY. High-end
performances and informal science activities. A partnership of
community, Cornell University, and Ithaca College.
• Zero1 Biennial. Art exhibit, commissions, community activities
based on resources/interests of high tech industries and arts in San
Jose CA.
• WaterFire, Providence. Literally, fires (floating and fixed on
shoreline) with music all along the rivers. WaterFire takes place
multiple times over the warmer months.
Tim Nyberg paints with the Jana
Nyberg Group at the 2009 Eau
Claire Jazz Festival. Nyberg
says that music with lyrics often
produces more figurative paintings
while instrumentals tend to create
more abstract images. Photo
courtesy of OctaneCreative.com.
• Le Feu et l’Eau—Fire and Water Rural Arts Celebration, Arnaudville LA, Floating Fires! Dozens of visual arts
exhibits, Cajun music performances, Cajun French-language tables. Developed by a small (pop: 1,400) rural
community.
Overall Strategy
Cultural and heritage tourism requires a broad community understanding of culture and place. The National Trust has
developed five guiding principles to create a sustainable cultural heritage tourism program: 1) Collaborate; 2) Find the
fit between a community and tourism; 3) Make sites and programs come alive; 4) Focus on quality and authenticity; 5)
Preserve and protect resources.
Strategy 1. Understand What We Have
1.1. Map Eau Claire County’s cultural resources, using culture in the broad sense required for cultural
planning: inventory all resources that contribute to regional identity, history and culture. The Good Life survey responses
are a beginning. Residents identify with the rivers. Respondents valued and sought out the experience of rivers, parks and
trails in conjunction with the experience of other aspects of culture. A recent National Endowment for the Arts conference
on metrics could be used to set up a mapping project and establish indicators.
1.2. Make an officially recognized statement of who we are as a county and city and what
makes us special, and use this as a basis for planning cultural tourism.
“Communities that know who they are before they begin marketing themselves to the outside are much less likely to lose
what is special in the push for economic revival.” Bray, Ganonaque Ontario Cultural Plan. Time frame: Short.
1.3. Link residents’ “Quality of Life” with “Quality of Experience” for visitors
30 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
1.4. If we don’t have one now, develop a profile of current visitors to Eau Claire County and a
profile of prospective cultural and heritage tourism visitors.
Strategy 2. Understand our “Quality of Place.” Articulate what is distinctive about Eau
Claire County culture/heritage. From this, develop a vision for
visitor experience in the future (x years away).
“...Over the past two decades, city and town leaders have intentionally sought a
distinctive brand through a bundle of activities that will draw and retain residents
and visitors.... Most successful projects reach for this quality of distinctiveness.
They build on existing expertise and characteristics of place. …As reflected in
their urban layout and architecture, some communities have built their initiatives
around unique local economic and social history. …older industrial cities … built
along rivers and lakeshores, … possess commercial, industrial, and residential
structures with architectural and historic merit…. coalitions of artists, city
officials, real estate developers, banks, and philanthropists worked to recreate
attractive work and living spaces in emptied structures, taking advantage of
shorelines and preserving the individual character of buildings. Providence’s
famous WaterFire event uses the river as an artery connecting various sites. Many
others…have used vintage architecture and land uses as stages for arts-infused
revitalization. ”
— Ann Markusen, Ann Gadwa, Creative Placemaking
“Eau Claire does not have a distinctive identity/story that makes
it unique. This is vital to a feeling of community: not to mention to
boost tourism dollars, etc. … E.C. needs to know and celebrate its
own history, instead of just looking outside of itself to see ‘what
everyone else is doing’”
Strategy 3. Develop a partnership for cultural and heritage tourism.
IGA Country Jam USA, Town of
Union, 1990s. The country music
festival attracts about 140,000
people to Eau Claire County each
summer. Courtesy of Visit Eau
Claire.
“The constituency for cultural planning ... [has] three distinctive organizational segments—commercial, nonprofit and
community—with artists themselves comprising a crosscutting occupation with multiple service organizations and an
independent voice….”
— Cultural Planning and the Creative City, October, 2006, Ann Markusen, Professor and Director, Project on Regional
and Industrial Economics (PRIE), Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 31
Strategy 4. Develop Eau Claire County as a cultural and heritage tourism destination.
4.1. Create a partnership with Visit Eau Claire to define regional culture for visitors and direct them to ways of
experiencing the distinctive culture of the area.
4.2. Rework information and auto tours from Timber Trails, a former local heritage tourism program, to use immediately
in Visit Eau Claire communications to visitors.
4.3. Inform and demonstrate to local resources how they can be part of a cultural and heritage tourism strategy in a
beneficial way. Look for ways in which development of sports tourism, health care or shopping could combine with
cultural tourism. All of these areas are part of local culture and have a distinct character/history because of this.
4.4. Develop comprehensive information and new experiences based on all aspects of regional culture.
4.5. Secure a mix of “every day” and “special occasion” options so that there is never a time not to visit Eau Claire
County.
4.6. Develop capacity of local resources to work with/welcome visitors. Address challenges that exclude visitors from
resources, i.e., many Barstow and Water Street businesses closed on Sundays.
Strategy 5. Develop plans and specific activities based on current resources/skills available
and understanding of gaps. The Good Life survey is a good source about what residents think, and what they find
to be available or not available.
5.1. Celebrate small town life. Eau Claire County and the surrounding area have “the small towns of your imagination.”
City of Eau Claire residents enjoy the smaller surrounding communities. But, of course, even Eau Claire is a small
town to Twin Cities residents.
5.2. Celebrate city life. To smaller regional communities, the City of Eau Claire is the metropolis.
Left: Lincoln Avenue in Fall Creek,
Christmastime, 1949. Courtesy of
the Fall Creek Historical Society.
Right: Lincoln Street in Augusta,
October 2007. Courtesy of Dennis
Knuth, www.augustawi.com
32 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Top: Building a hut in the marsh
behind Sunnyview School, Town of
Washington, 1930s. Courtesy of the
Chippewa Valley Museum.
Education
Bottom: Altoona Art teacher Donna
Walther helped 4th grade students
during an art class, Spring 2010.
Photo by Shane Opatz, courtesy of
the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
• In order to have a strong cultural sector and community, both formal and informal
opportunities for cultural, history, heritage, and arts learning must be available for all ages.
• Although Eau Claire County has opportunities in these areas, there is need for greater
diversity and integration throughout the community.
• This can be accomplished by not just providing more educational opportunities, but also by
infusing arts, history and heritage content into all educational experiences, and by building
stronger connections between local schools, organizations, and cultural representatives.
In January 2011, several administrators at the Eau Claire Area School District opened
up to Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reporter Eric Lindquist about a new approach to
curriculum in the district. The approach seeks to narrow an “opportunity-to-learn gap”
between white students and minority students, who now represent 16.7 percent of the
district’s total enrollment.
One leg of the approach is “infusing the curriculum and classroom with elements that
are culturally relevant for students of all races and ethnicities.”
Caitlin Lee, past president of the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance
Association, said that when she was a district student, the gap affected areas of culture
such as history. “When you compare and contrast between Hmong and white students,
what [white students are] getting is their history ... there is a place for them in there
somewhere,” she said. “But for Hmong students, you’re not in it. You’re not included.”
Perhaps more significantly than calling for a new curriculum, the new approach calls
for teachers to question the examples they use in class to teach the curriculum as it
stands. Eau Claire North High School teacher Marjorie Cramer noted, “My students are
not supposed to be me. They are supposed to be who they are.”
Infusing culture — history, heritage, or the arts — into current curriculum is similarly
possible, and would help all students “find themselves” in their studies.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 33
Overview and analysis
Much support has been garnered for arts, history and heritage education, particularly through the attempt at creating an
arts charter school in the City of Eau Claire, and many people understand the importance of this education. However,
there is still a general sentiment that while arts, culture, and creativity are important, they are not part of the bedrock of an
education, but simply the flowers that grow on top.
The Knight Foundation study showed that education is one of the factors most likely to influence residents’ attachment
to their communities. These factors have been in the top four each year of the study. The economy and safety were not
among the top drivers. Due to the correlation between attachment
to place and economic growth, “leaders also have much to gain by
improving perceptions of the quality of K-12 education in their
communities. Not only will this increase attachment overall, but a
more positive view of public schools can also help attract families that
will help raise the next generation of talent in the communities.”
As the Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education
states, “Developing arts and creativity in education programs is a
deliberate workforce development strategy and will stimulate creativity
and innovation and enable entrepreneurship. … Wisconsin’s future
prosperity depends on our success in reestablishing our leadership
position in breeding innovators and entrepreneurs – Wisconsin’s next
generation, ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
A National History Day exhibit
on hockey masks. Courtesy of the
Chippewa Valley Museum.
34 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
A multitude of studies show the link between arts education and overall
academic success, including reading and language development,
mathematics, fundamental cognitive skills and capacities, motivations
to learn, and positive social behavior. Arts education reaches students
who are not otherwise being reached, connects students to themselves
and each other, provides new challenges for those already considered
successful, and connects learning experiences to the world of real work.
In addition, a 2008 study in Colorado found that arts education lowers dropout rates, enhances parental involvement in
schools, and strengthens creativity and imagination, which are in-demand work force skills.
Failing to invest in education, especially arts- and culture-based education, will severely hinder Eau Claire’s competitive
edge, not only for future graduates, but for Eau Claire County’s economic success. In order to compete with new national
and global economies, we must foster local creative talent, retain the talent that is already here, and draw in new
resources. Also, individuals with personal arts, history and heritage learning experiences are much more likely to be
steady arts and cultural appreciators and attendees throughout their lifetime.
Where are we now?
Our survey respondents indicated that they do greatly value arts, history and heritage education: 95% either agreed or
strongly agreed that “Arts and music education in our schools is important,” 96% either agreed or strongly agreed that
“Residents of all ages should have the opportunity to participate in creative endeavors,” 96% either agreed or strongly
agreed that “I want young people to have creative opportunities in their lives here,” and 97% either agreed or strongly
agreed that “It is important to preserve and celebrate our history.”
They are also involved personally with arts and culture educational opportunities.
Three examples:
• 34% of respondents learn about historical subjects (research, read or watch TV
shows) and 11% would like to.
• 22% of respondents take art or craft-making classes and 33% would like to.
• 8% of respondents take dance classes and 25% would like to.
Some 23% of respondents indicated that they regularly “see or do arts, cultural, and
heritage things at college or university cultural facilities,” while 55% occasionally do.
Public Schools
In the Eau Claire Area School District, students in grades 1-5 receive 60 minutes of
art each week and 90 minutes of music each week. In the Fall Creek School District,
students in grades 1-5 receive 60 minutes of art each week and 60 minutes of music
each week. Neither district meets the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s recommendation of 90 minutes each
for art and music each week.
When funding for field trips was cut in 2009, District United PTA/PTO raised enough funds for students to go on their
regular field trips for the following school year. For the 2011-2012 school year, funding was restored for elementary
school field trips, but not for middle or high school.
Key partnerships between the school districts and community organizations include those with the Chippewa Valley
Museum, Beaver Creek Reserve and the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire. For example, all the Eau Claire Area School
District kindergarten classes visit CMEC for a field trip in January and February.
There are outstanding teachers within the community who have helped create unique programs, including Visioneer
Challenge, created by Johanna Peterson, Northstar. This program invites professional designers to present students with a
real-world problem. Kathy Bareis, Delong, developed Prime Products, which brings students together to learn how artists
create and sell their work. Then students develop a product and their own company through which they sell their works.
Multiple schools in Eau Claire have worked with Arts@Large, an innovative program that provides multidisciplinary arts
experiences. One recipient, Roosevelt Elementary School, received funds to bring arts into the daily lives of its students
including fieldtrips to see performances, art supplies to be used in the classroom, and a mural that was designed and
DeLong Middle School has a
vegetable and herb garden, and
they recently decided to double its
size with help from Arts@Large,
an organization that provides art
programming and advocacy in
public schools throughout the state.
Science teacher Michelle Brettingen
said the garden fit into their
philosophy of health awareness,
as kids learn to grown their own
tomatoes, potatoes, corn, squash,
beans, and many other vegetables.
Photo by Andrea Paulseth for
Volume One
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 35
painted by every student in the building.
Many local arts and cultural organizations and individuals provide school-based programs, both during the school day and
after school. For example, the Montessori Charter School brings in artists.
The University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire
At the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire (UWEC), 21% of students take an English class, 17% a history class
(although only 3% take a local/regional/state history class), 16% a foreign language class, 7% a visual arts class, 6%
a music class, and 2% a performing arts class. In 2010-2011, 70 students graduated with a degree in visual arts, 22 in
performing arts, 65 in music, 85 in history, 206 in foreign language and 105 in English. UWEC students also have access
to over 60 cultural clubs. Chippewa Valley Technical College students have access to a fluctuating number of cultural
clubs which are created and active when there is student interest.
Patti See (UWEC Academic Skills
Center) and Bruce Taylor (emeritus,
English) are the authors of the
book “Higher Learning: Reading
and Writing about College,” third
edition, Prentice Hall/Pearson
Education. The book, for use
in freshman orientation/student
success/freshman composition
courses, is an anthology of
imaginative literature by student
as well as professional writers. It
contains stories, poems, essays,
letters and memoirs about all
aspects of college life in order to
motivate students, especially first
year students, to read, discuss,
write and think critically about
the problems and challenges of
succeeding in college.
The history department has received the UW System Regents Teaching Excellence Award for Academic Departments and
Programs in recognition of its exceptional commitment to teaching and learning. The history department, in partnership
with the Chippewa Valley Museum, and Cooperative Educational Services Agency 10 has received more than $5 million
in grants from the U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History program.
UW-Eau Claire has a nationally recognized forensics program, winning the state tournament for 19 consecutive years.
From choral, orchestral and wind repertoire to jazz and musical theater, UWEC’s music and theater arts program is one
of the best in the country. One example: Grammy-nominated Jazz Ensemble I, six-time winner of Down Beat magazine’s
“Best College Big Band” award.
UW-Eau Claire is ranked sixth in the nation and first among all master’s-level institutions in Wisconsin for the number of
students who study abroad for a semester or longer.
“Also fantastic to have UWEC campus diversity, but I think the UWEC faculty could do more to engage the
non-campus community.”
Other public programs
Young people in Eau Claire County are both talented and dedicated to a variety of arts and cultural opportunities. They
are also a sizable percentage of the volunteer force for cultural organizations. The Chippewa Valley Museum had 75
volunteers under the age of 18 in 2011. The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library has long had pages, and the Children’s
Museum of Eau Claire is looking at getting middle school students involved as volunteers.
There are many out-of-school arts and cultural educational opportunities in Eau Claire County. Out of the 35 cultural
organizations that responded to our survey, 16 said they offered educational classes/workshops for the public last year,
for a total of 159 classes/workshops offered. Six organizations responded that they held classes/workshops within the last
year for professional artists and people who work in a creative field and 9 organizations replied they had held a total of 21
lectures.
36 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Twenty-one organizations serve public school students and 17 serve both private and home school students. Between the
organizations, all grade levels are served from Pre-K through University. Fourteen organizations have 75% or more of
their students coming from Eau Claire County. Another six organizations have between 30-64% of their students from Eau
Claire County.
Three organizations in Eau Claire County specialize in life-long learning opportunities for adults: the L.E. Phillips Senior
Center, Chippewa Valley Learning in Retirement, and UWEC Continuing Education. Commercial businesses and other
non-profit organizations also offer classes in a variety of arts, history and heritage areas.
A number of respondents expressed satisfaction with current Eau Claire County educational opportunities:
“Best is that we have access (probably due to the University) to some of the most incredible talents and
those people frequently share their expertise and talent with the community.”
“EC public schools are doing a fantastic job of educating our youth on cultural issues and exposing children
to stimulating outlets.”
“Libraries - they provide education and recreational materials to all ages”
Despite many cultural strengths, Good Life respondents saw places for improvement.
“I think the performance level in music and theater is increasing and I only hope the cut in school music
programs doesn't create a situation where this performance level and appreciation goes into decline.”
“Football and hockey rule. As a kid, I played two sports. My kids are in sports. I’m not against sports but
cultural things should also be important enough to fund.”
“Inadequate inclusion of ethnic studies in the schools”
“The thing that we long for the most is AFFORDABLE and easily accessible classes/museums/ educational
opportunities relating to culture. Classes for all ages about theater, art, language, history, dance, music,
nature, environment, etc. are not very common (or at least hard to search for and find).”
It’s already happening:
Wisconsin Teachers of Local Culture, an innovative program conducted by the Center for the Study of Upper
Midwestern Cultures (UW–Madison), the Chippewa Valley Museum, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and K-12 teachers from
throughout Wisconsin. WTLC tours immerse teachers in the cultures of Wisconsin communities through on-site guided
tours, interaction with local residents, and community-based presentations over the course of a 5-day travel seminar.
http://csumc.wisc.edu/wtlc/
The L.E. Phillips Senior Center provides a place for Senior Citizens, 55 and better who reside in the City or County
of Eau Claire to maintain independence, receive services and develop skills which enhance the emotional, physical and
social quality of their lives. They offer classes covering a range of subjects including Spanish, watercolor, researching
genealogy online and many more. http://www.lephillipsseniorcenter.com/html/classes.html
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 37
Where could we be?
Community respondents suggested some future goals both for K-12 education and affordable life long learning.
“All children would have access to arts/humanities in multiple disciplines both in- and out-of-school.”
“Nature appreciation (community organized nature walks/bike rides, classes for young children on enjoying
nature and gardening at their level, etc)”
“I still want to be learning. Learning opportunities for all ages.”
“Cooking school/classes of different ethnic food (winter months)”
“We have so many Hmong and Spanish speaking people and we do little to emphasize that fact.”
Models
A+ Schools Program, North Carolina, “a whole school reform model that views the arts as fundamental to how teachers
teach and students learn in all subjects. The mission of the A+ Schools Program is to create schools that work for everyone
— students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community.” http://aplus-schools.ncdcr.gov/whoweare.html
Children of the Future, Columbus, Ohio, “an arts and public safety program for youth ages 5-14. The after-school and
summer programming is free and available to children at inner-city schools, recreation and community centers. Artists
work at the programming centers to plan and conduct activities in dance, creative writing, music, theatre and visual arts.”
www.gcac.org/edu/children_of_the_future.php
Strategies
Strategy 1. Infuse arts, history and heritage content into all educational experiences.
1.1. Establish an Arts, History and Heritage in Education Advocacy Group to provide information to
the general public and civic leaders about the value of cultural learning.
This is a vital step in creating awareness and support for the arts, history and heritage in education. School districts are
unlikely to invest more time and money in these vital areas without widespread expression of community support, and
support will not come without understanding.
Some steps to take:
• Develop semi-annual public programs at a cultural or historic site emphasizing how arts and cultural learning
contribute to the academic and life-long success of every K-12 student.
• Make annual presentations about the ways current arts, history and heritage opportunities align with state academic
standards to county superintendents and principals.
38 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
• A website including information such as
- current research on arts, history and heritage education
- history, heritage, culture and arts education funding opportunities
- cultural-, arts-, and history-education professional-development opportunities
- cultural, history, heritage, and arts events at all public and private schools
- community educational opportunities in arts, history and heritage
1.2. Cultural organizations and local school districts should provide professional
development opportunities and necessary support for school staff to implement
creative, active learning across the curriculum.
This doesn’t require insertion of new classes or units, but helps teachers infuse local
history and culture into existing curricula.
A step to take:
UWEC should implement creative processes in pre-service teacher education.
Strategy 2. Provide more educational opportunities for arts, history and heritage.
2.1. Provide courses in school, accessible to all students, related to regional history and heritages and visual and
performing arts.
Currently, the courses in these areas differ from school to school, district to district and even from year to year. Due to
scheduling conflicts in Middle and High schools, it is possible that students may be unable to take the courses they would
like, even if they are offered.
A step to take:
Chippewa Falls Middle School
teacher Gregg Jochimsen (second
from left) and fellow teachers from
around Wisconsin participated in a
Civil War reenactment as part of a
professional-development program,
a collaboration between the
Chippewa Valley Museum, UWEC,
and Cooperative Educational
Services Agency 10, funded by $1.67
million grant from the Department
of Education Teaching American
History program. Photo by Shane
Opatz, courtesy of the Eau Claire
Leader-Telegram.
Cultural organizations offer help to teachers.
2.2. Provide children and teens more opportunities for culture, history, and arts learning outside of school.
Organizations throughout the county offer programming for children, teens and young adults. However, there is room for
more programming dedicated specifically to these areas, as well as infusing arts, history and heritage into existing topics
and opportunities.
A step to take:
Incorporate new/altered programs within existing organizations’ framework. For example, the Chippewa Valley
Symphony, Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, and the Eau Claire Children’s Theater could invite and provide tickets for a
specific scout troop to each of its concerts.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 39
2.3. Provide adults and seniors more opportunities for culture, history, heritage, and arts learning.
Although Eau Claire County organizations offer educational opportunities, many respondents requested additional
learning opportunities with more topics and more varied scheduling. Filling in these gaps will create a stronger cultural
community and broaden the range of actively involved participants.
Some steps to take:
• Offer educational opportunities at varying times of day (not all seniors are retired and have daytime hours to attend
events, and not all adults work 9-5 hours).
• Create exhibits and other programming on the diverse arts and cultural traditions of more recent immigrant
populations in Eau Claire County communities.
Celebrating the Hmong New Year,
November 15, 2011, on the UWEC
campus. Photo by Jenna Campbell,
courtesy of Inside Eau Claire.
Strategy 3. Build stronger connections between local schools, organizations and cultural
representatives.
3.1. Create a network of culture, arts, history and heritage
based youth programs.
Creating a network would help those who produce programs, those who currently
seek out these opportunities and those audiences who are not yet being reached.
Organizations would benefit from sharing best practices and information, joint
programming, community awareness, challenges and possibly collaborative
solutions. Arts, history and heritage learning opportunities allow youth to study and
explore the world around them and their own talents in a safe environment, while
learning acceptance of the diversity around them.
Some steps to take:
• Create a database of youth arts, history and heritage learning opportunities.
• Enhance collaborations between organizations to expand and promote
afterschool and summer arts, history and heritage opportunities for youth.
• Improve the ways organizations (either individually or as a group) share
information about opportunities with students in school. Possibly a partnership
between the districts and the organizations.
3.2. Better communicate the range of history, heritage, arts, and culture learning experiences and resources
available for children in school. Involve more collaboration between creative-sector leaders and educators.
40 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Currently, there is access to arts, history and heritage educational opportunities in the county’s public schools, but it varies
from school to school and from teacher to teacher. Better communication would allow students from any school in Eau
Claire County to access current opportunities at other schools.
Some steps to take:
• Create a “Grab Bag” webpage of successful arts, history and heritage programs already occurring in county schools
(i.e. Montessori bringing in artists)
• Identify artists, historians and community cultural representatives willing to work with students in school; provide
orientation and training for this kind of involvement. Maintain and circulate an updated list of these individuals.
• Annually assemble leaders of education and cultural organizations to increase awareness of the cultural, creative, and
historic resources in the county and possibilities for collaboration and coordination.
• Create partnerships between Eau Claire County schools and community organizations that will expand and improve
available cultural programs and services in schools.
3.3. Increase opportunities for youth to showcase their talents and knowledge in community
venues, events and programs.
Allowing youth to share their talents and knowledge with the community at large increases positive connections between
youth and the general community, and gives youth opportunities to develop leadership skills, responsibility and selfconfidence.
Some steps to take:
• Incorporate youth talent into existing events and programs.
• Have youth leaders help create a new event or program, perhaps working through an existing cross-district program
such as Youth Leadership Eau Claire.
• Have more showcase space available for youth talents and knowledge in public spaces, including within their school,
government offices, outdoor areas, hospitals and local businesses.
3.4. Bridge the gap between UWEC and the general community in communicating and coordinating
culture, arts, history and heritage programs and offerings.
Eau Claire County has a diverse arts, history and heritage scene, in part because of the opportunities provided by UWEC.
Strengthening collaboration between UWEC and community organizations would offer support to the organizations and
help the University play a stronger role in community life. Better connecting the University with the community would
also encourage students to be more involved in ways that build community.
Some steps to take:
• Coordinate university and community organizations’ programming.
• Make campus culture, history, heritage, and arts offerings more accessible to the community.
• Make off-campus arts, culture, history and heritage opportunities more accessible to students by including
orientations, bus routes and special welcomes for students at those events and venues.
• Have the university establish an instructional building downtown.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 41
Strategy 4. Education for creative workers should include how to manage their career in
the real world.
Many creative workers — such as visual artists, musicians, and writers — spend much of their lives self-employed, or
working so many hours in an unrelated field or job that their creativity withers. Many highly trained creative workers
eventually leave their fields.
Some steps to take:
• High schools and universities should offer courses relating creative work and small business management.
• Cultural organizations can offer seminars for creative workers on how to manage and market their skills and products;
include members from the business community.
Key Resources:
Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development www.americansforthearts.org/
public_awareness/resources/artsed_publications/003.asp
Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning, 2002. www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/
artsed_facts/highlights/001.asp
The Arts, Creative Learning & Student Achievement: A 2008 Study of Arts Education in Colorado Public Schools.
www.coloarts.state.co.us/programs/education/study/Colorado%20Arts%20Ed%20Study%20Summary%20Final.pdf
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Report 2010 – Soul of the Community: Why People Love Where They Live
and Why It Matters: A National Perspective.
Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education
St. Cloud, Minnesota: Community Cultural Arts Plan
http://www.ci.stcloud.mn.us/Arts/St.%20Cloud%20CommunityCultural%20Plan.pdf
Bradenton, Florida: Realize Bradenton: Cultural Master Plan
http://www.artserie.org/culturespark/_files/CultureSpark_BradentonCulturalPlanFINAL.pdf
York County, Pennsylvania: Imagine York County
http://www.artserie.org/culturespark/_files/CultureSpark_York_Cultural_Plan_Full_Version_Draft.pdf
42 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Aesthetics and Character
• A 2010 Knight Foundation survey found that “social offerings, openness, aesthetics, and education are, in that order,
most likely to influence residents’ attachment to their communities.”
Downtown Eau Claire Farmers
Market, September 18, 2010. Photo
by John Connell.
• Good Life survey respondents were outspoken in their appreciation of
— or disappointment with — area aesthetics.
• We can improve our rivers, parks, city entrances, and wayfinding. We
can respect historic buildings and neighborhoods. An excellent and first
step would be for all Eau Claire County municipalities to be as specific
about historic preservation and aesthetics in their comprehensive plans
as they are about recreational resources.
In covering a City Council meeting Tuesday, March 27, 1923,
The Eau Claire Leader reported, “Appeal was made yesterday by
the council to … the Eau Claire Woman’s Club to rouse public
sentiment against much which is disfiguring to the beauty of the
city, such as ash piles, waste paper, and similar garbage on private
property. It was voted that the chairman appoint a committee of
three to look after the matter.
“The deplorable appearance of river banks, both the Eau Claire and
Chippewa, was emphasized by the speaker of the afternoon, Mrs.
W.G. Jackson and by those who entered an enthusiastic discussion
that bid fair to have no end....
“Though the ears of many individuals and some officials must have
burned horribly between 3 and 5 yesterday afternoon, most of the
discussion was based on constructive criticism. Mrs. W.G. Jackson
had carefully prepared her topic of City Beautiful to include such
things as pictures of attractive bungalow residences for fire stations, asking why it was deemed essential that a
fire station should be hideous....”
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 43
Overview and Analysis
Respondents were outspoken in both their appreciation for area aesthetics and their
disappointment whenever they perceived lack of aesthetics or care.
What’s Best?
“Beautiful, natural setting is the best Eau Claire has.”
“Parks” [many responses]
“Phoenix Park” [many responses]
“Phoenix Park, Rod & Gun Park, Owen Park, Carson Park, and others are
a regular day trip in our house and they are beautifully maintained and
available.”
“Lots of nice outdoor areas for walking/festivals/music.”
“I love our small, yet beautiful downtown.”
What’s Worst
“Downtown is still ugly, underused, and off-putting to pedestrians (in
spite of Phoenix Park), with lots of potentially nice buildings having
hideous 1970s facades, etc.”
“Clairemont/Highland cement/stoplight strewn zones. The unattended ...
looking [medians] in our city streets and the lack of mowed areas make
us look shabby and uncaring of our environment within our city.”
“Constant development/sprawl at the city's edges.”
“The worst thing is the landlords who don't care.”
“What's worst is how many historic buildings (like the Opera House) have
been torn down and replaced with eyesores.”
What’s Missing
“Downtown should face towards and [use] the beauty of the river.”
Looking southwest toward the corner of Graham and East Grand in Eau
Claire, before and after demolition of the Chappell Block. Courtesy of the
Chippewa Valley Museum.
“It's important to maintain city and neighborhood parks to provide a
space for cultural activities - and a place to meet neighbors.”
“Preserving our historic architecture.”
“Enhance the walking community.”
44 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
“Public art is missing.”
The Knight Foundation’s ongoing study about “attachment to place” in 26
American cities, large and small, is based on Gallup surveys from nearly 43,000
individuals. The top findings show that neither jobs, the economy, safety nor
demographics are the strongest drivers of community attachment. Rather “social
offerings, openness, aesthetics, and education are, in that order, most likely to
influence residents’ attachment.” When residents enjoy what their community has
to offer, they spend more on local activities and businesses, directly benefiting the
local economy.
Aesthetics in the context of the study included perceptions of the availability of
parks, playgrounds, and trails and beauty or physical setting. Communities
with the highest levels of attachment had the highest rates of gross domestic
product growth.
Where are we now?
Residents quickly adopted Phoenix Park as not only a beautiful place but
also a gathering spot and location for community activities. Many Good Life
respondents (from throughout the county) commented on its value. They also
used it as a standard for what re-development elsewhere should be like.
Northeast Eau Claire County has a wide range of parks and recreational areas.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 45
Where could we be?
Models
Realize Bradenton. In 2008-09, Bradenton, Fla., combined downtown revitalization and cultural development efforts
into a 10-year plan to leverage arts, culture, and heritage to build economic development, cultural tourism, and civic
engagement. Realize Bradenton, Inc., was formed to implement key plan elements in conjunction with the Bradenton
Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and other partners. The DDA also established an advisory board to oversee
its public arts program and the growing interest in public art in downtown. Among the achievements: a substantial
improvement and 1.25 mile extension of the Riverwalk on the Manatee River. Artists proposed original projects for the
Riverwalk, which includes spaces for large-group and individual activities and education about the history and natural
history of the river. Realize Bradenton provides many arts and heritage events under the banner “downtown is everyone’s
neighborhood.”
Preservation Development Initiative in Duluth, Minn., focused on downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Among
Duluth’s assets are turn-of-the-century buildings, a spectacular lake-side setting and ample recreational offerings. The
initiative established
• a 20-block Duluth Commercial Historic District with 86 contributing commercial structures. Historic district
properties became eligible for the federal rehab tax credit.
• a Preservation Loan Fund, which completed five residential rehab projects investing nearly $200,000 in four
neighborhoods and leveraging more than $700,000.
• hands-on technical preservation training for 40 professionals and homeowners.
46 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
• User-friendly Design Guidelines for homeowners with historic properties.
The Community Art & Design Program of the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission (Salina, Kansas) was initiated
in 2000. A 2006 policy facilitated the inclusion of artists, art, and design in selected city projects. Artists have created
light sculptures at the water treatment plant, mosaics for the municipal pool, exterior murals composed of historic images,
wayfinding signage and unique lighting for bridges and overpasses. The Commission sometimes funds these public art
projects and at other times advises agencies doing their own projects.
Strategies
Strategy 1. Value and enhance the aesthetics of the rivers.
“… All downtown and Water St. buildings face away from the rivers and the backs of the buildings are
mostly waste land. Make it attractive, and people will come and hang out.”
“… plants along river trails need to be trimmed back so one can see the river.”
Strategy 2. Incorporate aesthetic elements, cultural activities and gathering spots into all
parks and commercial areas. Continue the design standards established for Phoenix Park.
“Geographically EC is a beautiful place. The community has done much in the last few years to make our
city better in so many ways. I wish people would realize how important it is to our city to support the parks,
arts, and cultural events. We need to provide financial support including public funds. These commitments
will pay-off and benefit our community for ourselves and those that will follow.”
“We could still use some work on [neighborhood] parks …Upgrading the visual look of our streets in
maintaining them and downtown.”
“The worst is that some neighborhoods and newer areas of development do not have
neighborhood parks (i.e., development patterns that do not include this feature).”
Strategy 3. Improve entrances and wayfinding.
“By far, I believe the downtown lacks aesthetic appeal. The entrances into downtown are not
attractive, and downtown needs to reinvent itself to become a destination for arts goers
rather than just commerce. Ugly is not a word I'd like to use, but I find that it's unavoidable.”
“[Need] welcoming signs into EC.”
“Identify gateways that announce who we are.”
Strategy 4. Respect and protect historic buildings and neighborhood character.
Our zoning laws need to be more like New Urbanist principles of compact transit-oriented development. (Congress for the
New Urbanism, a reform movement based on the principles of traditional urbanism that advocates the planning and design
An entrance to Eau Claire.
Photo from Scott A. Wozniak.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 47
of great urban neighborhoods that are walkable, diverse, and economically sustainable, with shopping, civic institutions,
parks, and jobs within easy access of residents.)
“The west side of EC could be spruced up with sculptures, small green spaces. It's not a particularly inviting
part of the city yet has great neighborhoods!”
“Haven’t cherished our old bldgs.”
“Don’t have a big inventory of historical arch or good contemp architecture.”
“I wish everyone cared more about aesthetically pleasing streets and housing areas.”
“Street signs and lighting in the historic area of Eau Claire need to be replaced with more appealing
designs.”
Strategy 5. Encourage neighborhood-based programs and events.
Some neighborhoods lack an obvious gathering point. Many communities create neighborhood-based cultural centers
in existing facilities, such as schools or parks. Participation in larger events could begin at the neighborhood-level and
then culminate in a larger event downtown, making them a “gateway experience” to encourage and build more frequent
cultural participation.
Strategy 6. Encourage all EC County municipalities to be as specific about historic
preservation and aesthetic components as they are about recreational resources.
All EC County municipalities use the same template for their Comprehensive Plans. The template suggests planning for
historic preservation and cultural or aesthetic enhancements but these sections lack development.
Measures:
GDP growth. Growth in community attachment (Need a base survey.) Increased rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of
historic structures. Art commissioned or purchased for all new facilities. Working artists receive a larger portion of their
annual income from their art work. Greenspace, trails, sidewalks interconnect.
Key Resources:
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, “Knight Soul of the Community 2010: Why People Love Where They Live
and Why It Matters.” This on-going study defines community attachment as “an emotional connection to a place that
transcends satisfaction, loyalty, and even passion. A community’s most attached residents have strong pride in it, a
positive outlook on the community’s future, and a sense that it is the perfect place for them. They are less likely to want
to leave than residents without this emotional connection. They feel a bond to their community that is stronger than just
being happy about where they live.”
48 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Cultural, re-development, and historic preservation plans from Duluth MN, Bradenton FL and Salina KS.
Access
• It is not enough to simply offer cultural opportunities to residents. Residents have to be
made aware of them. Opportunities must be offered at varying times, venues, and admission
charges. And residents must be able to get there.
• While Eau Claire has a good start on many of these access issues, there is room to improve
and offer opportunities better suited to meet residents’ needs and wants.
• Residents’ needs and wants can be met by listening for patterns in what they say.
Access means different things to different people.
• Both Judy Ann Haag Carsten and her father grew up in Eau Claire. Her father told
her that, in the 1930s, “Five cents would take us to a movie, but we [could rarely] go
because we had to pay the utility bill which was $1 every month. Five cents ... was for
an afternoon matinée. Evening shows were 10 cents. We never went to those.”
• Early in the morning of February 8, 2004, the complainant of a later ADA lawsuit —
a paraplegic in a manual wheelchair — called a local cab company to arrange for transportation to a nearby
motel for him and a friend, both of whom had attended a concert in Eau Claire the previous evening.
After arriving to pick up the would-be passengers, the driver drove away without any explanation or discussion.
The complainant then called the company’s dispatcher and asked why the cab driver had refused to pick up
the two passengers. After the dispatcher learned that he used a wheelchair, the dispatcher told him that the
company’s policy did not permit its cab drivers to transport wheelchairs.
North Stone Street, Augusta, after
a heavy snow during the winter of
1966-67. Courtesy of Jane Justesen.
He estimated that he and his friend were stranded on the street in the bitter cold (the temperature reached +1°
overnight that night) for approximately 20-25 minutes without any way to get to their motel until a passerby
offered them a ride. The federal government and the cab company reached a settlement in this case.
• An October 2011 Facebook post invited area residents to a music video shoot taking place “around Eau
Claire” from “Friday, November 11, 2011 at 5:00pm until Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 5:00pm.” “The song
we’re shooting is called The Untold Story. It’s a nationally recognized anti-bullying song.” Many replied. All
expressed enthusiasm for the project. But some had to send regrets. Amanda Oliver posted, “i cant make it my
husband has to work all weekend.”
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 49
As stated by one focus group participant, who does not fit the stereotypical “culture” seeker image, sometimes it’s not
about holding a cultural opportunity. It’s not even about advertising the name of said cultural opportunity. It is about
letting residents know what that opportunity is really about and why they, personally, would enjoy going to it.
“I had never been to [the Farmer’s Market] because I thought it was just fresh vegetables. No it’s not,
there’s so much more there, I was blown away. People just say Farmer’s Market so you’re thinking vegetables,
maybe some fruits, but they have breads, and cookies and coffee, there’s that Thai restaurant thing now,
I mean it’s nice to have that incorporated. You need to let people know what it is, not just that there’s a
farmers market.”
For the following section, when the term “cultural” is used, please note that it is used broadly and is referring to many
sectors, including arts and heritage as well as a broad range of events and activities, including the farmers’ market, book
clubs, Phoenix Park concerts, etc.
Respondents gave a range of reasons why they don’t attend cultural offerings in Eau Claire County. Some reasons are
about the offerings themselves and others have nothing to do with the actual program or event. Transportation, the cost,
scheduling, awareness and variety of programming were consistently listed.
Transportation
While there are many ways to get around Eau Claire, there are still gaps in transportation and parking options for county
residents both in the city of Eau Claire, and throughout the
county. Whether it is a lack of bus service or a lack of parking
near an event, residents want more transportation choices,
including more pedestrian- and bike-friendly options.
While UWEC is an important provider of arts and cultural
opportunities for its students, and to some extent to the entire
county, parking and accessibility are deterrents for many
community members.
37% of respondents indicated “Transportation, parking is too
difficult” as a reason that keeps them from being involved in
more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
23% of respondents indicated “The distance is too far, drive
time too long” as a reason that keeps them from being involved
in more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
50 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
The City of Eau Claire has 130 on-street meters which are in
effect between 9 am and 6 pm, Monday - Friday, except holidays, at a rate of $0.25 per hour. It also maintains 11 surface
lots and 2 parking structures totaling 1,220 spaces.
• La Crosse’s Parking Utility operates a total of 1,447 off-street parking spaces in the Central Business District, 610 are
currently leased spaces in the three City parking ramps. There is a $0.25/hour charge for parking in the Market Square
and Main Street parking ramps. Designated 2-hour parking spaces in these ramps remains free, and the La Crosse
Center ramp and surface lots provide free 12-hour parking. (51,000 population)
• The City of St. Cloud owns and operates a total of 3,226 parking spaces, including 683 metered spaces at $0.50/hr.
(66,855 population)
• The City of Wausau maintains 3,553 parking spaces downtown. Meter costs range from $0.20/hr - $0.50/hr. 1,510
spaces are permit spaces. (39,106 population)
There are over 1 million rides per year on the Eau Claire Transit. Regular fare is $1.50, elderly/disabled is $.75, monthly
pass is $45, elderly/disabled pass is $23, students range from free to $45 for a Student MAX Pass. Preschool children ride
free when accompanied by an adult. Two children per adult may ride free.
The City, in partnership with the County, provides specialized transportation
services under contract with Tender Care Transport Service. Paratransit is a
demand-response program with door-to-door service, utilizing a fleet of liftequipped passenger vans. Passengers living in the Cities of Eau Claire and
Altoona must have a disability that prevents them from accessing or navigating
the city bus. Cost per ride is $3. No bus route includes Carson Park
Eau Claire buses run Monday - Friday: 6 am–10 pm and Saturday: 8 am–6 pm.
Altoona buses run Monday - Friday: 7 am–6 pm and Saturday: 8 am–6 pm.
Buses do not operate on Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of
July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.
Eau Claire has 16 city bus routes, including three Express routes (two of which
are school year only), and 10 city taxi services. No buses run to Augusta, Fall
Creek, or rural cultural venues such as Beaver Creek Reserve and the Mill
Museum. There is no general county-wide transport service.
61% of respondents indicated “Weather issues” as a reason that keeps them
from being involved in more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
Brian Amundson, director of public works for the City of Eau Claire, said “Our experience over the past 3 years has been
that the change from 2” to 3” has not prevented travel in the community. The biggest issue is when snowfalls exceed 8”
to 12” and have a duration of more than 24 hours - such as the 22” snowfall last December that lasted almost 36 hours.
The City kept the 86 miles of arterial streets open and the buses continued to operate. …The expectation that a person
can drive any where they want 365 days a year - 24 hours a day is unrealistic. Event organizers have become much more
aware of the weather and willing to cancel events in advance for safety purposes to not put people in bad situations.”
“Best about EC cultural life - it's very accessible. By that I mean you can get to a place easily that you
want to attend and it's not expensive to park, etc.”
The Eau Claire Transit buses offered
free rides in August 2010. Photo by
Shane Opatz, courtesy of the Eau
Claire Leader-Telegram.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 51
“It's not easy to get to or park for events”
“The way to get to downtown is terrible.”
“If you are on State Street, there is no sign telling you how to get to historic Water Street.”
“[Need] more … signs so people can learn about what is available downtown.”
Transportation is good, but should have more for handicaps”
“I don’t drive....I take the bus. The bus doesn’t run on Sundays or holidays, and ends early Saturdays. Also
routes drop in evenings. If I could take the buses more I would love to go to some of these things. Also, if a
bus went more places...like Chippewa...more places in Altoona, maybe by the EXPO center.”
“Get rid of parking spaces and focus on bicycling, mass transit, and pedestrian access”
“I like Eau Claire's recent focus on bike and pedestrian paths - I think we need to continue that outdoor
focus with parks, green spaces, and paths that make it walkable/bikeable.”
“There is a lot of room for improvement in terms of the interconnectedness of the community of Eau Claire-our city's design and urban plan seems to encourage separation rather than co-mingling, though there are
some positive signs in terms of the bike paths and downtown renewal.”
Model: Free transportation for Apple Festival, Alexander County, N.C.
Transportation Strategies:
Strategy 1. Improve navigation and transportation within the city and county
1.1. Develop a series of kiosks/card racks to complement the new way finding system. Include a walking/
biking route map, for easy navigation to cultural sites and events.
1.2. Expand bus routes and schedules to include cultural sites and events throughout the City of Eau Claire
and Eau Claire County.
A step to take:
Provide service for special events: Fourth of July in Carson Park, concerts in Phoenix Park.
Strategy 2. Create walkable, interconnected neighborhoods and cities.
2.1. Increase sidewalk and street connectivity
52 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Connectivity should be encouraged to link cultural assets and promote pedestrian movement between and within all
neighborhoods.
2.2. Create a pedestrian-oriented streetscape
“The most livable and economically successful downtowns enjoy a fine grain network of inter-connected, two-way,
livable, attractive, walkable streets with on-street parking; and a mixed-use fabric of buildings that address the streetscape
and quality public space with ‘front door’ relationships. Eau Claire needs a more walkable environment that better
balances the pedestrian with the automobile.” — Bradenton plan
Some Steps to Take:
• Enhance crosswalks at signalized intersections
• Improve transfer station. Add shelters at transit stops.
• Provide a mix of on-street, surface, and structured parking options. Where feasible, locate surface and structured
parking mid-block behind buildings and promote shared use facilities.
Cost
In any month, residents can find free cultural events, activities and opportunities in Eau Claire. However, respondents
disagreed on whether there are enough in number or variety.
They also disagree about quality. The cost of some cultural
opportunities does prevent some respondents from attending.
72% of respondents indicated “It’s too expensive, costs too
much” as a reason that keeps them from being involved in
more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
83% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that “We
need more affordable arts and culture for residents to enjoy.”
68% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that “The
City of Eau Claire or Eau Claire County should create a fund to
support arts, culture, and heritage.” 18% disagreed or strongly
disagreed. When compared to demographics of respondents,
there was no correlation found between income level and
whether respondents agreed or disagreed.
In just over a year, 263 people have taken advantage of the
Ticket to Adventure pass at the Library. During FY 2011, at least 439 people attended the Chippewa Valley Museum on its
free Tuesday nights. At the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, a qualifying family can get a one-year Access Fund family
membership for $10 instead of $80. In 2011 they sold 335 Access Fund memberships.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 53
While there was a correlation between income level and the amount respondents were willing to pay, all income levels
were found in every category, except the $10 category and the More than $100 category.
“Friendly and accessible events by local artists and creators
(public concerts, art fairs, food and ethnic fairs, etc - all of
it inexpensive, easy to get to by foot, bike, or car, and always
welcoming).”
“The different free offerings of Eau Claire art make it wonderful
- all the different outdoor live music during the summer,
Chalkfest, etc.”
“The worst is that many things cost money or take place at
times or in venues not suitable for my family.”
“More variety of low cost cultural opportunities”
“Most events are either free or really costly - no middle ground
cost and no acts in that range.”
“Financial support ... from community members is lacking. People
attend but walk past the donation box.”
“Need more private corporate sponsorship involvement in
programs.”
“I also wish we had more affordable community arts programs for adults. In other cities I've lived in I could
take painting, jewelry making, pottery, etc., classes through the city parks and recreation for a nominal fee.
That would be great.”
Cost Strategy: Talk about it
1.1. Make public aware of overall cost of event. Some events must get a large part of their support from ticket sales.
1.1. Make potential sponsors aware of community needs.
1.1. Make residents aware of Ticket-to-Adventure pass and other opportunities to take part for free or at reduced rates,
including in many cases by helping as a volunteer.
Barriers
54 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Respondents offered a variety of reasons that prevent them from taking part in cultural opportunities. Cultural groups and
organizations may be able to address these issues to increase participation and better serve county residents. For instance,
places for youths to socialize in Eau Claire can be limited, especially since many cultural activities take place at night and/
or in 21+ environments.
34% of respondents indicated “I have no one to go with” as a reason that keeps
them from being involved in more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
3% of respondents indicated “English is not my first language” as a reason that
keeps them from being involved in more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
In the 2010 Census, 5.8% of residents in Eau Claire County indicated that a
language other than English was spoken at home. While this is not directly
comparable, it does indicate that for our county, having 3% of Good Life
respondents indicate this as a problem is significant and needs attention. It
is also worth noting that language was a potential barrier in taking the Good
Life survey, so residents with without strong English skills were probably
underrepresented.
9% of respondents indicated “I have a disability or lack mobility” as a reason
that keeps them from being involved in more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
20% of respondents indicated “Safety concerns” as a reason that keeps them
from being involved in more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
8% of respondents indicated that they regularly “see or do arts, cultural, and
heritage things at taverns or clubs,” while 37% occasionally do and 55% never do.
“Eau Claire's cultural life seems to be abundant and accessible to nearly all of its residents.”
“The fact that bars do not allow underagers, even when wristband policies have worked in every other city
in America, is absurd and I feel as though I have missed out on much of the arts and culture scene due to
this. Policies like this are what force concerts into living rooms and basements in neighborhood areas where
they are not welcome.”
“Need to accommodate those with disabilities other than immobility (wheelchair), especially those with poor
vision and poor hearing. Captioning on all video material, e.g., at museums, needs to be standard.”
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
student Joe Gapko, left, leads
Beth Hicks, director of services
for students with disabilities, Matt
Glowacki, and Chancellor Donald
Mash on a tour of lower campus
as part of Disabilities Awareness
Week, October 2002. Photo by Andi
Stempniak. Courtesy of the Eau
Claire Leader-Telegram.
Barriers Strategy
Organizations host “find friends like you” nights (for people who have no one to attend cultural opportunities with).
Model website: http://www.not4dating.com/
Schedules
21% of working county residents start work between 12 noon and 4 am. This schedule drastically affects how they
participate in cultural opportunities and what opportunities are available to them as well as their children.
From the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2010 and using “time of arrival at work” as the indicator, there
were 80,447 workers in Eau Claire County. 75% worked the first shift (starting between 4 am -11:59 am), 15% worked
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 55
the second shift (starting between 12 pm - 7:59 pm), 6% worked the third shift (starting between 8 pm - 3:59 am) and 4%
had no arrival time listed.
“Many activities seem to be during the week or day when I can't go to them. Kids stuff is during the day &
middle of week, i.e. library events.”
“Weekday evening opportunities. After work hours.” [Missing]
“My largest complaint is that the events I want to participate in are all either held or 'prepped' during
my hours of work. I work 2nd shift and it prevents me from attending events during the week that are of
interest to me and excludes me from being able to have any input into future events, especially during the
week. I feel that shift workers are often unintentionally excluded from participation.”
Models:
Glow: Dusk & Beyond, Santa Monica, Calif. Glow, a free dusk-to-dawn biannual event features the work of
international, national and local artists. Glow is the only all-night art event in the United States that emphasizes the
commissioning of original artwork. Glow projects invite active audience engagement and exploration and constantly
surprise in their unexpected placement in spaces and times not normally reserved for fine art.
Noche de la Primavera, Mexico City. Mexico City welcomes the arrival of spring in style. All through the night, the
roads in the historic centre of the city centre are closed off to cars, and the streets and plazas pulse with music and
dancing. Mexican folk rhythms mingle with Latino pop, while acrobats, theater troupes, and animators entertain the
revelers until dawn.
Schedules Strategy
Test new schedules for activities and events to capture audiences with non-traditional hours. This must include heavy
marketing before new scheduled times, or there could be low attendance due to lack of awareness.
Awareness
Respondents varied widely in their opinions on the ease and availability of information concerning cultural opportunities.
There is a large disconnect between what is offered and what the general public knows about.
Although respondents indicated web sites and emails as a valuable way to get information about upcoming cultural events,
more traditional media, including newspapers and magazines are still frequently used.
Volume One was referenced, unsolicited, by 36 different respondents, as one of the best ways of getting information about
cultural life in Eau Claire.
56 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
“The best thing about Eau Claire cultural life is the level of organization brought to our community by Volume
One magazine. It allows our arts and culture scene to be more cohesive, accessible, and engaged than at
any time in the past.”
Also, access to information about what is going on at the University,
as well as what is open to the community is confusing for some
respondents.
“As a college students I am made aware of the on campus
opportunities but don't know about the off campus ones.”
56% of respondents indicated “I’m not aware of what’s going on” as
a reason that keeps them from being involved in more arts, cultural
and heritage activities.
23% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree with the statement
that “Information about local arts, cultural and heritage offerings is
easy for me to find.” (73% agree or strongly agree)
25% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree with the statement
that “I am very aware of the local arts, cultural and heritage
offerings.” (71% agree or strongly agree)
After correlating responses for the last two questions with
demographic information, we found that non-white respondents
represented 11% of those who disagree or strongly disagree, while only representing 4.5% of total survey respondents.
(No other correlations have been found through demographic information, including age, urban vs. rural, income and
education.)
“Once you dig in, you can find cultural events – the marketing is not hitting the masses”
“Still so many people that do not realize what EC has to offer. People who still grumble there is nothing to
do in this town- they must live under a rock or something.”
“A lot of options but for people who aren't computer savvy, they may not be aware of them.”
“Wish more time would be given to local event reporting by the television stations.”
Awareness Strategy
Ensure that every resident in Eau Claire County regularly receives information about cultural offerings.
1.1. Pursue joint marketing of cultural opportunities within and outside the cultural sector.
Some steps to take:
• Get cultural information into the hands of newcomer groups.
• Distribute cultural information county-wide.
• Hold marketing workshops to help organizations sharpen their skills.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 57
• Better promote awareness of the numerous free events and opportunities, including
the Ticket to Adventure available at the library.
• Better promote the comprehensive cultural calendars that already exist.
• Cultural organizations/venues themselves should have a comprehensive list of
current cultural events and activities for internal planning.
• Solve the problem of how to represent non-event opportunities (such as exhibits) in
a calendar format.
1.2. Strengthen relationships between cultural organizations and
all local media.
Some steps to take:
• Develop partnerships between media and cultural organizations, showing media
that its audience cares about cultural opportunities.
• Cultural organizations and local media will meet at least three times a year to
promote events and new seasons.
A screenshot from the online
calendar at volumeone.org.
1.3. Use existing bridges to connect with all Eau Claire County residents.
A step to take:
Promote cultural opportunities in the publications, mailings, and websites of community organizations, churches,
businesses, local associations, and clubs.
Variety
The range and variety of cultural opportunities in Eau Claire County is robust. However, every audience and age-range
replied that options were lacking for either themselves or another group. Every subset was also listed, both detrimentally
and positively, as the audience that is most catered to. Opinions on the quality of offerings also varied.
76% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that “We need more family-oriented arts, cultural and heritage
programs here.” 13% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
74% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that “Quality of local arts, cultural, and heritage offerings is high.”
18% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
80% of respondents indicated “What’s offered is not appealing to me” as a reason that keeps them from being involved in
more arts, cultural and heritage activities.
58 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
“Always something to do. Abundant opportunities to get involved”
“There are a lot of small activities/subgroups that exist - something for everyone.”
“The set of offerings seems quite robust for stay-at-home mothers/fathers...”
“Lack of things for single adults.”
“The blandness”
“Eau Claire is too family oriented. That's ALL we have here!”
“Not enough kid-friendly or specifically kid oriented events.”
“I am not impressed with Eau Claire at all. There is diversity lacking in this
community both in ethnicity and tolerance to other cultures.”
“The worst is that we don't really cater to the 25-30 year old crowd as
actively as we think we do.”
“Vibrant community for all ages especially for families i.e. ECCT, LE Phillips Library, CVYC”
“There is a wide array of events for adults and children, but there's a miss for teens and young adults. …
If someone is looking for something to do with teens and young adults it's Action city”
“We should be more inclusive of younger/alternative community members.”
“Very open-minded, it seems you can express your cultural very nice here and it's accepted.”
Fall Creek parade, July 4, 1912.
Courtesy of the Chippewa Valley
Museum.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 59
First Steps
The Good Life: A Cultural Direction for Eau Claire County is a book of ideas intended both to assist the cultural sector in
strategic planning and to encourage the integration of the county’s cultural resources into all aspects of community life.
Implementing some great ideas will take years. But there are others that could and should begin immediately.
Strategies
Strategy 1. Establish mechanisms for sharing information,
addressing issues, and fostering collaboration within and without
the cultural sector.
In marketing the Good Life effort,
we asked area artists to think about
the good life in Eau Claire County.
This is how artist Sarah Bradford
saw it. Her artwork, along with
the works of several artists and
photographers, appeared in print
ads and on billboards and bus tails.
60 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
The Good Life process generated information never before accumulated. Much of that information came
from individuals, but organizations played essential roles as well. Four cultural organizations (staff and board
representatives) were part of the planning team. Many others contributed to discussions, and 37 organizations
completed a separate survey. Going forward collaboratively could help address common issues in the cultural
sector, such as the need for assistance with database solutions, assistance with website development, access
to professional services (such as accounting or legal services), or volunteer recruitment and training. In
addition, 97 percent of the organizational survey respondents indicated that strengthening communications
within the arts, cultural, and heritage community would help their organizations.
1.1. Create an on-going awareness marketing campaign so that all Eau Claire residents know about
their cultural resources.
1.2. Create a planning calendar so that organizations can post dates as soon as internal planning begins (long
before the usual posting date for promotion to audiences).
1.3. Study the use of cultural districts in the US and then consider a City Center Cultural
District from the Eau Claire Children’s Theater to Barstow Street to Banbury Place to the University to Water Street to
Carson Park.
More than 100 cities in the United States have planned or implemented cultural districts, putting culture at the center of
urban revitalization efforts. All cultural districts reflect their cities’ unique environment, including history of land use,
urban growth, and cultural development. There is no standard model. Most cultural districts are built to take advantage
of other city attractions such as historic features, convention spaces, and parks and other outdoor focal points. The Texas
Arts Commission, which coordinates a state designation program, lists a series of ways that cultural districts contribute to
community revitalization. Cultural districts
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
beautify and animate cities
provide employment
attract residents and tourists to the community
complement adjacent businesses
enhance property values
expand the tax base
attract well-educated employees
contribute to a creative, innovative environment.
Americans for the Arts defines cultural districts as “...geographic areas of a city where there is a high concentration of
cultural facilities, arts organizations, individual artists, and arts-based businesses. They are mixed-use developments that
incorporate other facilities such as office complexes, restaurants, retail spaces, and occasionally residential areas.”
Cultural districts involve long-term vision, planning, and commitment — and should capitalize on assets specific to the
cultural, economic, and social issues of the community. They require careful coordination among varied stakeholders and
may require specialized management to be developed and maintained.
Unlike a cultural center or shopping mall, a cultural district comprises a large number of public and private property
owners. It is typically supported by a coordinating body. Effectiveness depends on factors like size, budget, and authority.
Possible sources of support for planning a cultural district include the new National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our
Town program. Its intent is to support model projects that enhance livability in communities. NEA looks for “measurable
community benefits, such as growth in overall levels of social and civic engagement; arts- or design-focused changes in
policies, laws, and/or regulations; job and/or revenue growth for the community; and changes in in-and-out migration
patterns.” NEA expects grantees to show measurable progress with the understanding that creating such change is a longterm process.
Some small-to-medium sized cities with cultural districts:
• Bloomington Cultural District, Ill.
• Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Fairfield, Iowa
Under a state program, Fairfield, Iowa, created a cultural district to “help draw attention to the cultural, historical and
artistic attractions that already exist in Fairfield as well as build on those attractions, by encouraging further preservation
of historic structures, promoting its artistic and cultural diversity, and promoting downtown Fairfield as an important
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 61
regional cultural venue.” Fairfield, which has seen development of software industries and the arrival of Maharishi
University in recent years, saw the cultural district as a mechanism for “developing organizational, financial and business
support systems to enhance the expanding creative economy.” The cultural district is a vehicle for implementing two goals
in the city’s strategic plan: “to cultivate and promote Fairfield’s cultural richness and recreational opportunities,” and “to
revitalize our downtown as a hub of business, government and civic activity.”
Strategy 2. Work with the Eau Claire Community Foundation on a Giving
Circle or other methods of mobilizing more philanthropic support for the cultural sector.
The Good Life surveys were conducted during a period of great economic instability that significantly affected Eau Claire
County’s cultural organizations. Earlier sections of this report have described difficulties that many individuals have in
accessing cultural resources because of cost or scheduling issues. The missions of most cultural organizations include
access for the public, but modifying or adding programming to address issues can often be difficult. In the organizational
survey, 23 of 37 groups listed a financial problem as their greatest current challenge. As one respondent said, “We are
asked to do more and more with less and less to the point that it is very difficult to maintain [our academic] program.
We have to serve students first. This limits our ability to engage the public.” Another noted, “Organization time has been
shifting away from program and toward fund-raising. This needs to go back the other way.”
Working with Eau Claire Community Foundation would strengthen cultural organizations and help make their services
more consistently available across the community. The foundation encourages private giving and assists non-profits with
development of endowments.
Strategy 3. Create vehicles for working with local governments not only to
stabilize support for the cultural sector but also to incorporate cultural resources into solutions
for community problems.
The same economic instability that affected other resources for Eau Claire County’s cultural organizations also affected
support from local governments. By supporting cultural organizations, local governments can create consistent access for
all residents to the wide variety of cultural resources available in Eau Claire County.
The possibilities are not one-sided. Eau Claire County’s cultural resources are assets that can be incorporated into all kinds
of social and economic strategies and solutions. Cultural organizations and community residents who value our cultural
assets should seek active roles in all kinds of planning, so that in the future all community plans are also cultural plans.
Resource:
62 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
Americans for the Arts, Cultural Districts Handbook: The Arts as a Strategy for Revitalizing Our Cities.
.
Our Process: A Timeline
October 1, 2009 – Project Began
March 23, 2010 – Large Focus Group
• 99 people personally invited by mailed invitation
• 42 attendees, 12 planning team members
June 15, 2010 – Mailed Survey
• 1000 surveys mailed out (82 unable to reach the intended person)
650 were sent to people living in the City of Eau Claire, 350 were sent to people living in Eau Claire County but
outside of the city (proportionate to census data)
• Addressed to individual people
• Randomly selected and statistically representing all mail routes in the county
• There was an incentive – if they returned a completed survey, they would be entered into a drawing for $200 in local
Chamber Bucks
• 209 surveys completed and returned (23% return rate)
• Results were entered by hand
June 15, 2010 thru September 15, 2010 – Online Survey
• Promoted through articles and interviews on local media: Leader Telegram, Volume One, WEAU
• Promoted on team member’s organization’s websites and facebook
• Website for survey listed on a bookmark given out at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
• Website for survey included as an insert in an Eau Claire Regional Arts Center playbill
• 610 completed surveys (averaging 425-500 responses for each question)
• Results tabulated by the survey computer program
July 15, 2010 – Survey Reminder Postcard
• Mailed out to all 1000 people who received the mailed survey
• Received about 30 surveys due to reminder
• For next time, we would send out reminder postcard 2 weeks after survey, and then an entire survey 2 weeks after the
reminder.
October thru December 2010 – Targeted Surveys
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 63
• In order to reach groups of people who were under-represented in our survey responses (including people with a
high school degree or less and representatives of the Hmong community) we reached out to organizations’ who
already served these groups, including Literacy Volunteers, the Educational Opportunities Center, GED classes at the
Chippewa Valley Technical College, the Boys and Girls Club and the Hmong Mutual Assistance Assocation.
• Received 45 completed full-length (7.5 pages) surveys
• Received 10 completed shortened (4 pages) surveys
October 2010 thru January 2011 – Organizational Surveys
• Sent out full-length (10 pages) organizational surveys to 96 full-time cultural organizations
Received 35 completed surveys (36% return rate)
• Sent out shorter (2 pages) organizational surveys to 125 organizations where culture takes place, but it is not its main
purpose (i.e. bookstores, religious organizations, movie theatre, etc.)
Received 5 completed surveys (4% return rate)
March 29, 2011 – Community Forum
• Advertisements for the forum in the Leader Telegram and Volume One
• Interview on WEAU
• Posters around town
• Listed on team member’s organization’s websites and facebook
• 40 Attendees, 10 Committee Members, 10 Note-takers
June 22, 2011 – Small Focus Group
The process included “image
advertising” for the county itself
and how we here have expressed
our culture over the years.
• Had nine people who had a high school degree or less agree to partake in a focus group. Four people actually
participated. Each person received a $25 gas card as an incentive.
Other cultural plans:
• St. Cloud, Minnesota: Community Cultural Arts Plan
http://www.ci.stcloud.mn.us/Arts/St.%20Cloud%20CommunityCultural%20Plan.pdf
• Providence, Rhode Island: Creative Providence: A Cultural Plan for the Creative Sector
http://cityof.providenceri.com/efile/47
• Bradenton, Florida: Realize Bradenton: Cultural Master Plan
http://www.artserie.org/culturespark/_files/CultureSpark_BradentonCulturalPlanFINAL.pdf
• Madison, Wisconsin: Madison Cultural Plan: Sparking the Public Imagination
64 ~ www.eauclairegoodlife.org
http://www.cityofmadison.com/MAC/culturalplan
inside back cover
www.eauclairegoodlife.org ~ 65
In marketing the project, we asked local artists to think about the Good Life in Eau
Claire County. These are how four artists saw the good life: Susan Phelps Pearson,
David Brock, Anders Shafer, and Mitchell Spencer. (We did not ask artists for a
seasonal round; these four just worked out that way.) This artwork, along with the
works of others, have appeared in print ads and on billboards and bus tails.
www.eauclairegoodlife.org