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2009 KEYNOTE PANEL:URBAN REVITALIZATION THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT The entertainment industry has taken the lead in transforming blighted urban areas into vibrant districts that support the economy and put their cities on the national map. Crossroads 2009 Keynote Panel showcases projects from 5 different cities in the Upper Midwest. The Keynote Panel will take place Friday, December 4th from 4-6pm, Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. Our Keynote Panelist include: Jason Kulbel, Saddle Creek Records/ The Slowdown Saddle Creek owners, Jason Kulbel and Robb Nansel, were approached by the City of Omaha in 2004 with land north of Omaha’s Old Market area and a few blocks west of the Qwest Center arena to build their multiuse entertainment complex. The only catch with the land was that it seemed to be a sort of no man’s land. Fearing a future of faceless neighbors and expanded corporate globalization, Saddle Creek decided to take the future of their neighbors into their own hands and help kickstart the rebuilding of the north downtown area. They conceptualized their own “mall” with the help of J Development and Alley Poyner and began to make it a reality. The Saddle Creek/Slowdown building quickly became the hub of an innovative urban “development” that now houses a live music venue, an independent non-profit movie theater and an Urban Outfitters (downtown Omaha’s first national retailer in decades). All accomplished in a previously “dead” part of Omaha. F. John Herbert, CSPS/Legion Arts In 1991, Legion Arts opened CSPS, a contemporary arts center located in a renovated Czech social hall near downtown Cedar Rapids. Since then CSPS has become an outstanding regional venue for art, music, dance and theatre from across the US and other countries. The flood of 2008 devastated the building along with the rest of downtown Cedar Rapids but CSPS quickly turned a crisis into an opportunity. With the help of a State of Iowa I-Jobs funding Legion Arts will transform the CSPS building into the center of a new entertainment district for Cedar Rapids. Brad Parks, 365 Brad Parks is recognized as a leader in Iowa’s efforts to recruit and retain a growing workforce. He was an original member of the Vision Iowa Board and over five years was involved in over 1.8 billion dollars of development projects in the state. He is also Chairman of the Iowans for a Better Future Board, the group responsible for the fulfillment of Iowa’s 2010 vision initiative. Brad is the founder, along with his brother Bryce of 365, a multi-media company credited with spurring the renaissance of their hometown Dubuque, Iowa. Amedeo Rossi, Court Ave. District Des Moines, 80/35 Music Festival Founding Member of the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition and owner of Vaudeville Mews, The Lift and SA Entertainment. Amedeo Rossi is a true pioneer in the Des Moines Entertainment Industry. In 2002 the Court Ave District and, Downtown Des Moines in general, lacked an entertainment district, premier live music venue, and thriving music market. With an entrepreneur’s courage and grass roots resources Amedeo opened the Vaudeville Mews and the Lift in Downtown Des Moines’ Court Avenue District spearheading the revitalization of the area into Des Moines’ premier entertainment district. Zachary Mannheimer, The Des Moines Social Club Zachary Mannheimer founder of The Des Moines Social Club, set out on a journey to find the ideal city to locate the community-entertainment project he envisioned through his work at various theater groups in NewYork, City . That vision became a reality with the Des Moines Social Club, a space that is a physical meeting ground using art as the catalyst to create stronger communities by removing barriers between diverse groups. Supported by a large volunteer membership, this non-profit entertainment venue is at center of the revitalization of Des Moines’ “West End” and the 2009 location for the Crossroads Showcases.
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