By Patrick Donges
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-976743.mp3
North Adams, MA – About 30 artists and North Adams community members met Thursday night at the Frog Louts Yoga Studio, on the first floor of the city's historic Beaver Mill, which also houses several artist work spaces, to meet the city's new director of tourism and cultural development.
At a meeting last month during which they approved an austere budget for the 2012 fiscal year, the City Council engaged in a heated debate over whether to fund the position and the department it is classified under, with some officials calling for abolition of the $34,000 salary and $17,000 in additional funding for the office.
The position was vacated in March after being held for ten years by Rod Bunt. With advisement from the arts community, Mayor Richard Alcombright drafted a new, more comprehensive job description for the position before accepting applications; he addressed the group Thursday before introducing the new director.
"The person I'll introduce I think we're all going to find will be very, very helpful in many ways; will continue to drive events in this community, will really involve herself in the arts and cultural community, and also in many other segments of the community. I'm not specifically focused on one thing; I think to grow we need to grow in all sectors."
"Veronica Bosley, you want to come forward?"
A graduate of Drury High School and Mount Holyoke College, Veronica Bosley has a background in organizational administration and management, and will leave her current position as the manager of volunteer services at Pittsfield's Eleanor Sonsini animal shelter to take the city position later this month.
"It has been really exciting to see the challenges and the changes that have happened over the years. There is such a great forward momentum in the city with things like the Solid Sound Festival and Downstreet Art."
"I'm really hoping to harness that great energy and all of those good vibes and market North Adams for what it really is; a great place to live, a great place to own a business, and a great place to come and visit."
The discussion that followed touched on a wide range of issues; here Bosley describes some of the ideas she brought up during her interviews for the position.
"We had some discussions about what really made North Adams special; obviously the contemporary art scene both with Mass MoCA and the artists living and working here. Also the recreational facilities and the natural amenities; parks, lakes, things like that. Connecting all of those things that are really unique about our community."
One key question was on the identification of metrics to determine Bosley's success in the position and the overall success of tourism and development. Here artist and author Eric Rudd poses the question of goals, followed by Bosley's response.
"What are you going to measure things on? Is it the number of people on Main Street; is it satisfaction in this room?"
"There isn't anything currently that's been in place and effectively used, so I think that our first step would be really to go to other cities and organizations to see how they benchmark their success."
While much was said about marketing the community to visitors, specifically those in Boston and New York City, there was also indication that promotion of the city may have to begin on a more regional level.
Keith Monyahan, an airbrush artist and photographer with a studio at Beaver Mill, grew up in Pittsfield, where he said the perception of North Adams is not as an arts community
"They look at is as a dump, like an old-school, falling apart kind of town."
Bosley said in addition to benchmark identification, another top priority would be a revamp of the city's arts and tourism website, which is currently located on the city's municipal home page.
In an interview after the discussion, Bosley addressed residents who may still be distraught over her appointment, saying that while she was about to start her "dream job," financial reality was not lost on her.
"My hope is to create revenue streams. I understand with programs being cut, I almost feel bad that I do have this position, but I do think it's a position that has the potential to almost right away start making money for the city."
Alcombright is expected to introduce a new 2012 budget containing a deficit of just under $500,000 to the City Council's Finance Committee the week beginning July 18, the same week Bosley said she expects to begin in the new position.