Advances in technology and in the evolution of human-centered design practices are beginning to expose a shift in focus from individual to collective creativity–– a new role for designers as creators of scaffolds or infrastructures upon which nondesigners can express their creativity. . . We are beginning to see that collective creativity can be very powerful and can lead to more culturally relevant results than individual creativity does.
- Liz Sanders, SonicRim

The strength of the community cultural network is critical to its capacity to contribute to neighborhood revitalization. Though it is important for individual organizations to be strong, researchers found that it is more important to strengthen the ties between organizations. Both the Social Impact of the Arts study and the Culture Builds Community assessment suggest that “institutional networks, not strong organizations, are the key to sustaining the community cultural sector.”

The SIAP study indicated that issues of trust, funding, and timing make collaboration between organizations and individuals in this sector a difficult activity for outside entities (such as local governments) to encourage.

The outreach component of The Dreaming is designed to invite organizations and individuals across the cultural sector to forge collaborative ties so as to join in a general goal of raising cultural participation throughout the city. Each organization that chooses to participate will have the opportunity to identify and incorporate into the outreach ways to achieve goals for their own organization such as increased prominence and visibility, expanded audiences, stronger ties to other organizations, improved access to funders, and a stronger “cultural ecosystem” within which to flourish.

For cultural providers, this initiative can provide a rallying point around which to engage and educate the community about the arts and the role of artists in the community. For these groups, other rationales for participation in this initiative are to improve the position of the arts on local political and economic agendas, to accelerate the transformation of the city into an arts destination, and, of course, to accomplish the important task of strengthening network ties among all cultural providers and arts groups.

We perceive Frederick is at a transition point when many of these arts organizations have reached the take off point, if they can find a way to cooperate and capitalize on their synergy. In a recent major poll, Aspire Frederick, city residents listed “Arts & Culture” among their top five priorities, something that would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Attendance at arts and street festivals continues to climb. Under these conditions, an audacious, strategic new vision can potentially leverage unprecedented levels of cultural engagement and prosperity for the downtown.

We seek to draw attention to and accelerate the transition to Frederick as an arts city, and to broaden, deepen, and diversify cultural participation for all arts activities and groups. Shared Vision’s goal is to seize this moment and, in partnership with many other individuals and organizations, to redefine this historic city and reclaim its identity as a must-see cultural destination.

It is our hope that The Dreaming will support these and other arts organizations that are important cultural anchors downtown:

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Shared Vision • The Prototype • Social Impact of the Arts • Economic Engine
Cultural Catalyst • Educational Spark