By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-845964.mp3
LANSING, MI – Arts advocates will meet in Lansing tonight to begin work on an economic development plan highlighting local cultural venues.
AUDIO: The Arts Council of Greater Lansing, the cities of Lansing and East Lansing, MSU and the state of Michigan are creating a plan to market the region's cultural resources. The project also seeks to encourage new entrepreneurs.
Arts Council executive director Leslie Donaldson says tonight's meeting will gather public input.
"I think sometimes we don't realize what's in our backyard; and I think what will come out of this process will be hopefully a better way for us to connect to the public to really talk about what amenities we have here," Donaldson says.
Donaldson says state government officials hope to use this planning process as a model that can be replicated in other arts communities across Michigan. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Lansing Center.