"WhatIsArt2Me" is launched!

Imagine artists from around the country choosing Chattanooga to develop and exhibit their works of art. Envision employers continuing to choose Chattanooga for their corporate location because the cultural diversity is attractive to their employees and also helps attract the best and the brightest professionals.

In an effort to further identify the community's perspective on art and build awareness for the arts, Maycreate Idea Group and Allied Arts launched a campaign entitled, "What Is Art to Me?" The purpose of the campaign was to engage all members of the community in defining the meaning of art to them.

To some people it is music, to others it is ballet or painting, to one gentleman, it was plumbing. He loves the old faucets and fixtures, the way they are designed and the materials they are made from. In other words, it's not just white-walled museums with paintings and sculpture.

The campaign kick-off was conducted at the Hunter Museum of American Art and was well attended. Over 130 people celebrated the beginning of the campaign, including the city and county mayors. The entire campaign effort was guerilla in nature for two reasons. One, to gain immediate attention and generate participation. And two, to contain costs, since the budget was limited.

All the major media covered the event. There is an ongoing contest with monthly prizes and everyone who enters competes for the Grand Prize, a trip for two to one of America's 25 top art destinations, Washington, D.C. To enter you had to visit the Micro site and download and print a picture frame. This had to frame any submission. Without it, the entry would be disqualified.

In keeping with the guerilla effort, sidewalks and street corners were tagged with the address or URL to the Micro site. Elevator clings of the frame were placed on elevator doors in commercial office buildings, as well as on storefront windows. The campaign will be running until February of next year.