Have you ever been downtown on a First Friday evening? Shops are open, galleries display new and original artwork as part of the Art Walk, signs line the sidewalk and the sound of live music wafts onto the street. People who make it a point to visit downtown during a First Friday with the Arts event will tell you there is great energy in the air.

Local galleries and studios started First Friday with the Arts in 2003 as a way to engage the community with the arts. At the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, we understand the power and importance of the arts as a unifying force. For this reason, as of January 1, 2015, the Arts Council is excited to announce that it has become the coordinator of these monthly events.

To kick off this transition, a downtown-wide Cookie Spree will be held on Friday, February 6^th, from 5–9pm. During the Cookie Spree, participating businesses and galleries will offer different types of cookies at their locations, and guests can receive a stamp on their First Friday Stamp Card for every business they visit. Those who go to 5 or more downtown galleries or shops will become eligible for a ½ price appetizer at The Bar, which was featured in the newly-released film Gone Girl! Stamp cards can be picked up at any of the participating businesses listed below.

If you would like a complete listing of cookies available, make the Arts Council your first stop. We will have delicious chocolate-chunk cookies, courtesy of Chick-Fil-A, as well as handouts for the different types of cookies offered (including several gluten-free options!). We hope you’ll make it a point to visit Downtown Cape Girardeau this Friday, and bring your sweetie. There will be enough sweet treats to go around! 

Participating Businesses and Galleries:
Annie Laurie’s Antiques, Artisan Gifts, The Artist Studio, The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, The Bar, BLack Door Gallery, Brick Street Gallery, Cup N. Cork, DazSpell Creations, Gallery of Inspiration, Lattitudes, The Painted Wren Gallery, Philanthropy, Renaissance, Social’s Café, Somewhere In Time Antiques, The Tangled Yarn, WESTRAY Studio, Yearning for Yarn, Yoga East Healing Arts Studio

Other First Friday Partners:
Old Town Cape, The Library Bar, Something Blue Photography, StevMark Inc. and The Wright Group



This post was written by guest blogger Murielle Gaither, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

With the recent decision to bring the annual Fourth of July fireworks display back to downtown Cape Girardeau, we thought it a pertinent time to discuss the beneficial impacts that events such as this have on the downtown area.  

 

The list of events taking place downtown during a given period is lofty, and includes the fireworks display, Tunes at Twilight, First Friday, Parade of Lights, and The River Tales Classic Car Show…among many others. These events have the capacity to draw thousands of people (local and regional) into the Old Town Cape area that might not have otherwise visited. When combined with the areas multitude of retail, dining, and entertainment options, it’s an obvious winning situation for downtown merchants of every variety.

 

A recent study conducted by The Maine Center for Economic Policy examined a cities’ economic impacts when comparing local versus chain stores. The city of Portland, ME that was chosen has a population of just over sixty-six thousand people, which is comparable in nature to the Cape Girardeau and Jackson regional area. They analyzed data collected from 28 locally owned retail businesses, along with corporate filings for a representative national chain. The researchers found,

 

“That every $100 spent at locally owned businesses contributes an additional $58 to the local economy.  By comparison, $100 spent at a chain store in Portland yields just $33 in local economic impact.”

The study concluded,

 

“That if residents of the region were to shift 10 percent of their spending from chains to locally owned businesses, it would generate $127 million in additional local economic activity and 874 new jobs.”

 

Cape Girardeau is obviously not Portland, ME, but even if we were to assume a fraction of the benefits they found, we can come to the conclusion that local spending and events are a winning combination for Cape Girardeau. This is why we as downtown merchants, of every variety, should feel the need to champion events such as our recent fireworks display, while also applauding those who chose to patronize local retailers while in attendance.  Of utmost importance though, is to come to realization that events such as these can come to a close at a moment’s notice without support from the local community. We don’t like to imagine a downtown free from the sounds of an acoustic guitar at Tunes at Twilight, the uproar of a hot rod revving its engine during the car shows, or seeing the first set of Christmas lights parading down Broadway. We certainly hope that everyone in our area feels the same!

Did you know that there are over 100 pieces of public art in Cape Girardeau? And that 85 of those pieces are located downtown? Our community is full of art in many ways, shapes and forms and it thrives off of the many talents that the local artists bring. In fact, come April 4th, two local artists will each have sculptures in the city's first ever Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit: On Broadway.

Before we go further, however, let's rewind time a bit. Two years ago, a group of community members from the City of Cape Girardeau, Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, Old Town Cape, and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce came together to form the Public Art Committee. This group worked to develop a public art policy to give framework and guidelines on how public art would be managed. Following City Council approval of the policy, the effort to host an outdoor exhibition began. Pretty cool, huh?

In August of last year, the committee released a prospectus to invited artists with the hope that the project would increase the number of arts-related activities within the region and provide an additional revitalization strategy for Old Town Cape. Proposals for consideration from the artists were due in October and the jurying process culminated in mid-November. The exhibit was juried by Tom Stancliffe, Professor of Art at the University of Northern Iowa, who has exceptional experience in creating sculptures, jurying exhibitions, and assisting communities in arts development strategies.

The two sculptures I mentioned earlier along with five others will be unveiled at a special reception kick-off event at 6 p.m. on April 4 at the Vasterling Suites Courtyard (Broadway & Fountain) and you're invited! Remarks will be given by Stancliffe and committee members and appetizers will be provided by Port Cape Girardeau. Following the reception, I encourage you to walk Broadway to view the pieces that will be in place for one year - you won't be disappointed!

The pieces are as follows:

'Splintering' by Beth Nybeck (Kansas City, MO)

'Quill' by Dan Perry (Waterloo, IA)

'Natures Quintet' by Stephanie Sailer (Swisher, IA)

'Lineage' by Ben Pierce (Cape Girardeau, MO)

'Victoria' by Chris Wubbena (Cape Girardeau, MO)

'Home Spun' by Andy Arvantes (Chicago, IL)

'Immigrants' by Mike Baue (West Chicago, IL)

For more information on the exhibit, visit the Cape Girardeau Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit website or Facebook page. I'll see you on the 4th!

This post is written by guest blogger, Kynli Smith, Intern at Old Town Cape.

When you first open the doors to Annie-Em's at Home you immediately notice the warm atmostphere. Walking into the store feels like you are shopping at home. Annie-Em's at Home is celebrating their one year anniversary on Saturday, September 7. There will be wine, cookies and fun at the store to kick off the celebration, Having moved to a new location this past year, the downtown business continues to grow!

"The business has really grown over the past year. We are introducing new lines and have broadened our age group," said owner Emilie Stephens.

In 2012, Emilie took over the business from her mother who ran the business for 11 years. Having a dietician degee, Emilie had no idea that running a business in downtown Cape was in her future. "I never imagined I'd be operating my own business. That was not in my plan. But, I'm glad my plan didn't work out. Being a business owner in downtown Cape is an amazing opportunity, one that has brought many people into my life."

Emilie credits her family, friends and her faithful customers to keeping her business successful. It is because of them that the experience of being a business owner has been so rewarding. "New faces come into my shop and those faces are always full of news, stories and advice. The relationships that I've built with my customers are worth more than they'll ever know."

As far as Annie-Em's at Home's future, Emilie plans to keep expanding her business. She hopes to launch a store website soon and she's also busy shopping and looking for new products of her favorite things to bring into her customer's hands. There will also be a big Christmas Open House celebration in November. It's a tradition that her mother started many years ago. Emilie feels as though her mother would be so proud of the people downtown.

This post is written by Murielle Gaither, Director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

Whether you have been in town for weeks or years, chances are you've heard of First Friday with the Arts. This iconic event was started in 2003 when the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri moved to their current Main Street location, deep in the heart of Old Town Cape. Every First Friday of the month, local galleries host a First Friday Art Walk. During this time, each gallery stays open for later hours (5 to 9 p.m.), and many provide light appetizers or beverages for visitors to enjoy while perusing the artwork. Some galleries, like the Arts Council, feature new artists or displays each month. Others change their displays every other month, or as often as they are able to. Many galleries even feature live music or performances to coincide with their First Friday opening!

With this event, arts folks hoped to encourage Southeast Missouri residents to visit downtown each First Friday, enjoy regional arts, and engage with the artists featured in the galleries. Now, ten years later, the event has grown to include each of the twelve galleries throughout Cape Girardeau, and visitors from as far north as Ste. Genevieve, and south as Sikeston and Charleston, regularly visit for good wine and great art.

Given the popularity of the event for arts folks, other downtown businesses take advantage of the extra foot traffic, and stay open for later hours as well. Stores like Annie Laurie's Antiques and Stash regularly open their doors to First Friday visitors, and some even offer fun promotions or events specifically for First Friday. These events change every month so if you're interested in knowing who is doing what, you'll have to check out the monthly schedule!

A great way to keep in the know is to sign up for the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri newsletter on our homepage. This newsletter is sent out weekly and informs readers about cultural and arts-related events in the region, including a full rundown of First Friday happenings. For a complete listing of the galleries that participate in First Friday with the Arts, stop by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri for a brochure, or visit this link. Did you miss First Friday? No problem! The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri Gallery is normally open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This post is written by guest blogger, Stacy Lane, Director of Public Relations at the Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Mark your calendars for Tunes & Tales on Friday, September 6th at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus! Michael Reno Harrell and the Reverend Robert Jones will present good 'ol "Appalachian grit and wit" meets gutsy Detroit folk and blues for an evening of spirited storytelling told with American roots music.

Michael Reno Harrell is an award winning songwriter as well as a veteran storyteller and entertainer, and he's from the South...the Southern Appalachian Mountains, to hone it a bit finer. His humor and wit, as well as the emotional depth of his work, keep his fan base growing and staying tuned in for whatever comes next.

For over 30 years, Reverend Robert B. Jones, Sr. has performed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe with the message that traditional American songs and stories have much to teach us. He loves songs that tell stories, and finds that many of his songs and stories are inspired by people he's known. Often too, Jones finds that the Bible provides great poetic language and imagery for song writing and storytelling.

Tickets are available for Tunes & Tales by calling 651-2265 or by visiting the Special Events page at RiverCampusEvents.com.
   
Make a weekend in Cape Girardeau's historic downtown out of the event! The Cape Riverfront Market will be hopping on Saturday, and on Sunday September 8th the Merling Piano Trio will perform at the River Campus. Need a place to stay or eat? We've got you covered at VisitCape.com.

We look forward to seeing you for Tunes & Tales at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus on Friday, September 6th. We are so excited to partner with Southeast Missouri State University to present this wonderful evening of storytelling at such an incredible venue!

This post is written by guest blogger, Katie Harbison who is interning downtown at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

I'm not a native of the Cape Girardeau area. I came down here about three years ago for school at SEMO and for a while it felt like there was nothing to do. Eventually I was introduced to the downtown area, with the gorgeous views of the Mississippi River and the local businesses, and my entire perspective changed. As I have begun my internship at the Arts Council, I've learned even more about everything this town has to offer, especially when it comes to introducing people to art.

One of the Arts Council's most popular events, and my own personal favorite, is the First Friday display. Like many other businesses in downtown Cape, the Arts Council stays open late on the first Friday of each month and displays new work--this month we are hosting pieces by Jake Wells and Alex Paulus. Both artists have a unique take on life and expression, and their work will blow you away!

To accompany the viewing, wine courtesy of Major Brands will be provided to the guests. The Jean A. Chapman gallery will also have new pieces by artists in the Visual Arts Cooperative on display, so you'll want to make sure you come and see whose work will be shown.

If you're interested in staying up to date with what is going on here at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, or want to have inside information on art classes or news happening in the area, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter! You can find the sign up link on the bottom left of our website homepage. We are also onFacebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. The Arts Council is located at 32 North Main. You can contact us at artscouncil@capearts.org or call (573) 334-9233.