Join Our Mailing List

We All Have Heroes
LVAA. 21c. ATL. Speed. KMAC. HITE. KSA. NULU.  Louisville's past, present and future is reflected in our cultural organizations and creative places.  And, as always, new times also lead to new evolutionary approaches.

I.D.E.A.S. (International Dialogue and Engagement Art Space) began in 2012 on the corner of 4th and Oak in Old Louisville as an exhibition project between Louisville and NYC. In 2013, it became contemporary art/creative chamber of commerce -- a hybrid entrepreneurial business association/social innovation club. In 2014, we are prototyping new ways for art, technology and entrepreneurship to come together as catalysts for positive social and economic change.

 

Art-moving beyond cultural asset.  Artist-becoming business entrepreneur and civic innovator.

   



Infused Into the Mind of a City
"How do you infuse the arts and creativity into the mind of a city?"  That's the question that Mayor Greg Fischer posed as he took the lead in our second Open Forum #2. The event, hosted in the construction facility of YouthBuild Louisville, was focused on how our elected officials will champion Louisville's creative industry development.   Also, big thanks to the startups (Collabra Music and redEapp) and artists ( Dominic Guarnaschelli and Todd Smith) who participated in Mix+Pivot #4 (co-presented with FORGE). 

See photos
  



Youth Can Also Help Us Create A Better Place
LiQuiyion Mitchell (above) and Sierra Preston are participants in YouthBuild Louisville. They are two smart, hardworking, young adults trying to become leaders in their economically marginalized Kentucky community.  I.D.E.A.S. UrbanGreen is a project providing art and sustainability apprenticeships in Versailles, France - offering new skills, support and cultural networking in one of Louisville's traditionally toughest neighborhoods.  Funders also receive some great perks being offered.

A generous donor is now providing a partial matching fund-  so give this week and double your money! Funds go directly to YouthBuild Louisville a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

 

Click here to watch the video 

 

 

 
From arts to science: LVL1 relocating to former home of Alley Theater in Butchertown

by Melissa Chipman / Insider Louisville 

 

Early this year, the Alley Theater vacated its space in the basement of the Butchertown Pointe to move to new, smaller digs on West Main Street. This summer, LVL1 hackerspace will pack up all of its goodies and move into Alley's former 9,000-square-foot property.

 

Read full Insider Louisville article

 

 

Let's Go For It! 

The Fourth Street Corridor has been identified as Louisville's Daniel Rose Fellowship land use challenge. Historically, Fourth Street served as Louisville's north-south commercial spine; connecting dense retail/entertainment venues, with institutions, residences, and workplaces along a bustling streetcar corridor. This approximately four-mile stretch now traverses the following four distinct districts that pose their own unique opportunities and challenges.  A great study on one part of the corridor, Sobro,  is available that provides a history and context for creating this area.  More recent presentations are available too on Sobro.    

4th & Oak Open House/Town Hall Coming Soon

 

I.D.E.A.S. has been working collaboratively with a number of groups to support the 4th St Corridor development.  This is a massively important part of Louisville's emerging creative eco-system and the time has finally come for strategic economic development.  In mid-May, I.D.E.A.S. will be hosting an "Open House / Town Hall" meeting to ignite new investment in the 4th & Oak node.  If you are interested in participating, please email us at theo@ideaslouisville.com with the subject line "Open For Business". 

 

   
Artist at Large

The artist-in-residence model of engagement is one of the most important aspects of our work at I.D.E.A.S.  Artist-innovators working here in Louisville to identify and build Louisville's emerging creative eco-system of arts, technology and entrepreneurship. We also send our own out to share Louisville with other places.  So, if you are in Philly or NYC, you might just run into I.D.E.A.S. artist, Sara Pitt (@all_ofthethings)  She is traveling along with Louisville recording artist Kyle James Hauser on his new CD release tour.  That's Sara in the pic above on location, shooting and working the hair flip with @shervinfoto @ayoawosika #nyc.  This coming week, she will be meeting for portfolio review with our sister organization Residency Unlimited.    

   


Velocity's Winter Demo Day 2014
Ever since the I.D.E.A.S. crew started doing the art programming at Velocity Indiana, we've noticed that Tony, Hollis Felicia and the team keep getting more theatrical.  We like to think we at least influenced this event.  Velocity will host its Winter Accelerator Demo Day on Thursday, April 10th at the Grand Theater located at 138 East Market Street in New Albany, Indiana. Demo Day will kick off at 3:00 pm, where five companies participating in the accelerator program will present their progress in front of 300 investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and students at New Albany's oldest and last standing theater. 

Several of the presenters are I.D.E.A.S. members and collaborators.  So, its hard to root for just one.  As they say in theater... break a leg everyone!

 
  

 

 




Kentucky-based organizations brought together by ArtPlace America   
Out of the 97 finalists for ArtPlace America's 2014 Creative Placemaking grants, 2 organizations are based in Kentucky. I.D.E.A.S. in Louisville, KY, and Pathfinders of Perry County in Hazard, KY. Being finalists brought our organizations together to learn with each other, to strengthen our grant proposals and to form an ongoing dialogue and engagement -- a foundation for future creative and cultural entrepreneurship between urban and rural Kentucky.  It appears that Cards and Cats can be friends!  

 

 
The Awesome School

Join in the live Skype conversation with great international artists moderated by Theo Edmonds at the I.D.E.A.S./IFUniversity collaboration - The Awesome School!  Our April 15 session features Swiss-Brasilian artist Pedro Wirz, who is currently an artist-in-residence with Residency Unlimited (NYC).

When: Tuesday, April 15, 2014, 6-7:30pm
Where: I.D.E.A.S. 1217 S. 4th St. Louisville, KY 40203

The Awesome School is FREE - Click Here to Register!

About Pedro Wirz
The whole is more than the sum of its parts has never been more true when it comes to describe Pedro Wirz's practice. Mixed-media Swiss-Brasilian artist currently based in Basel and S�o Paulo has an unconditional love for collaboration. And this means a natural talent to unearth people's hidden skills and exploit them (shall I say cultivate them) for the best.

Pedro Wirz has shown his work in exhibitions around the world including at the Kunsthalle Basel (2011), K�nstlerhaus Stuttgart (2013), Dortmunder Kunstverein (2013), Post Studio Tales, Berlin (2012) Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2013), Galerie Mendes&Wood, S�o Paulo (2013) and Centro Cultural S�o Paulo (2013). He was a resident at Cit� international des Arts, Paris in 2012 and he won the Peter-Hans-Hofschneider Prize (Stuttgart, 2012) , as well as the "Werkbeitrag der Stadt Basel" Basel - CH and (2012) and recived the Patronage for Young Artists - kunsthalle Basel (2010).


 


Poetry Month 

 

Louisville Literary Arts celebrates Poetry Month on April 10 and 11, with Dead Poet's Night at Carmichael's Booksellers and the INKY Reading Series, both beginning at 7 PM On Thursday, April 10, Louisville Literary Arts is co-host with Carmichael's Booksellers for Dead Poet's Night.  

Learn more    

 


 

Trail Mix 

HOME TOWN REVIVAL:  

Another new/old bourbon is coming to Louisville. Peerless Distilling, owned by Corky Taylor and his son, Carson, plans to open a distillery at 10th and Main streets as part of the Whiskey Row revival, according to a news release from the city. The distillery will be open to the public. The project is expected to create five to 10 jobs in its first year.  Read more news on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail 

 

GLOBAL REACH: 

Brown-Forman Reports Strong Third Quarter Results and Raises Full Year Growth Outlook.  Underlying net sales in developed markets outside of the United States grew by 7% (+1% reported, +5% constant currency).  Underlying growth was particularly strong in the United Kingdom, Japan and France, with each delivering double-digit growth.  In France, the company completed the launch of its owned distribution company on January 1, 2014.   Read more.  

 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:  

Also... worth the mention since we are on the creative art of bourbon.  Ever wonder what that dusty old Bourbon bottle in your grandmother's attic is worth? The Kentucky Bourbon Affair will help you find the answers. "American Liquors," sponsored by The Filson Historical Society and the Kentucky Distillers' Association, will offer advice and appraisals on rare Bourbon items as part of the inaugural showcase of America's only native spirit. The event is free, but a $10 donation is encouraged to support The Filson's programs. Participants must reserve a ticket. 

 


 
Beam Technologies launches another company 

by Melissa Chipman / Insider Louisville 

 

Last December, Beam Technologies vacated its prime NuLu real estate (and Insider Louisville moved in) and beamed on over to Germantown just off Goss Avenue. For months, we've been trying to leverage our status as former officemates to get a peek at Beam's new digs. CEO Alex Frommeyer has been cagey.

 



   

Road Diets  

Louisville  Metro Public Works and Assets will be hosting 2 informational meetings regarding safety improvements along Kentucky Street and Breckinridge Street.  The safety improvements will involve some reconfiguration of the roadways often referred to as road diets. The meetings will be held at the Shelby Park Community Center; 600 E. Oak Street, Louisville, KY 40203.  The meetings will occur April 14th, 2014 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM and April 16th, 2014 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.   For more information please visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/PublicWorks/Engineering/roaddiet.htm .


 Learn Full Article on Metro Govt Website 

 

 
THINGS WE LOVE