“I hope people can connect the dots” linking the arts and the economy and ask: ‘Why not here?’”
The civic leader/businessman was assessing Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley’s keynote message during the three-day Art & Creative Economy Conference held at The Prizery last fall.

Riley, a visionary and political hands-on heavy hitter in Charleston’s restoration, delivered a three-point formula: the arts, public grounds/parks and historic preservation.

He cited those points as the three basic reasons for Charleston’s economic success.

The 17-day Spoleto Festival U.S.A. debut in Charleston has definitely turned the tide in the city its mayor described as almost dead in 1977.

Revitalization downtown, tourism and the creation of Waterfront Park ultimately created a quality of life in the city that impacts its citizens year-round and helps businessmen recruit new talent, according to the mayor.

We can be proud of our efforts here as we the people “connect the dots” linking art to quality of life issues ….and dollars.

The Prizery, a simply awesome institution that serves kindergarteners, is home to music classes, provides the stage for a series of Little Theatre productions as well as a series of top flight, often nationally known, performances each year, is a giant step. And it is relatively new.

The Prizery performances draw visitors to our community, and many of those visitors – as well area residents - enjoy the dining and shopping in local businesses before or after Prizery events.

The Gallery in South Boston is another positive for the town in an area that is obviously enjoying its own “artistic” revival.

Since the Gallery’s 2008 opening approximately 250 pieces of artwork have been sold, pumping almost $17,000 into the artists’ community, according to its director, Jayne Pennington.

The Gallery continues to draw visitors to the community and its business neighbors.

Halifax launched its own art happening this year when the Convergence Art Guild opened studios, an exhibit area, a classroom and classic film opportunity at its building on Main Street.

It appears the “art” component is drawing its own following, and the best part is each compliments the other.

As the county reinvents itself following its dramatic losses in textile and tobacco production, the arts can play a positive role.

Mayor Riley told the crowd here in October that businessmen tell him “quality of life” issues in Charleston today make it easier to recruit new talent.

We need jobs, but so do millions of other Americans, and American cities are scrambling to find them.

So are we …and connecting the arts dots can only help.

Discussions with newcomers here continue to amaze as we discover many found Halifax County on the Internet and were drawn to it by a variety of reasons, including its opportunity for artists, its relative safety, its rural environment and the opportunity to pursue agricultural venues – grapes for wine, organic gardening, goat production and just fine living.

Indeed, we are blessed.

Merry Christmas!