Bravo Greater Des Moines to measure value of the arts

This year, Bravo Greater Des Moines plans to find out just how valuable the arts are to Central Iowa. Executive Director MD Isley said the organization is going to conduct a study that focuses on the economic impact the arts have on the community.

Isley said a similar study was performed in 2007, and Bravo hopes to complete one every four or five years.

“It’s absolutely critical to continue to have that data,” he said. “It shows the value that we bring not only in improving the quality of life, but in a dollars-and-cents way, that we’re very excited about.”

Isley said the organization will be working with Iowa State University economist Dave Swenson.

In addition to the economic impact study, Isley said Bravo will also be implementing its Community Cultural Plan, which was released in October 2011. The plan’s four main goals are to better connect the community and culture; expand and sustain the resources for the arts; work collaboratively with other organizations to share resources, co-market and possibly develop shared programming; and work to build the organization’s capacity.

Isley said the Community Cultural Plan’s goals go hand-in-hand with the cultural capital of the Capital Crossroads long-term plan, and that Bravo will be working with the Capital Crossroads culture committee.

Des Moines Social Club to ramp up events in 2012

For the Des Moines Social Club (DMSC), this year will be packed full with events and aspirations to move into a bigger building.

In addition to the plays that will be put on by three theater groups throughout the course of the year, Matthew McIver, the club’s artistic director, said the group plans to increase the amount of “DMSC to-go” events – visual arts events that take place in the community due to the lack of space.

The group also plans to bring back monthly jazz perfomances over the lunch break and launch a “lunch and learn” series for members of the business community to better connect Des Moines’ creative and business worlds.

Zachary Mannheimer, DMSC’s executive director, said the organization will also be working with the Des Moines City Council to buy or lease the downtown fire station located at 900 Mulberry St. It currently works out of the Kirkwood Hotel at 400 Walnut St.

“There’s 90 percent more space than what we have now,” he said, adding he sees the old fire station eventually housing a theater, art gallery, four to five classrooms, open office space, and a restaurant and bar area.

Mannheimer said 2012 will mostly focus on raising funds – though the group has already raised a fair amount of its goal – with hopes of moving into the firehouse in 2013.

Search for United Way president under way

A search committee led by United Way of Central Iowa’s board of directors Chairman Steve Chapman hopes to fill the organization’s vacant presidency by the end of January, spokesman Donavan Honnold said.

The committee consists of current and former board members who received and reviewed candidate qualifications in December. The committee hopes to nail down the top four or five candidates by mid-January and make a final selection by the end of the month.

Honnold said United Way’s board and search committee are conducting the search without engaging a search firm.

Chapman, president and CEO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems Inc., received expressions of interest from individuals about the United Way presidency upon the announcement of Shannon Cofield’s resignation.

Qualifications required by the search committee for the next president:

• A proven leader who has a desire for creating positive, lasting change in the community by continuing to build upon the organization’s work in three critical areas: education, income and health.

• A leader who will continue to collaborate with Central Iowa leadership and United Way-funded agencies and programs in Central Iowa to achieve goals for 2020 in education, income and health.

• Successful experience in community and organizational leadership; creating and executing organizational strategies; revenue development and management of resources (human and financial); and accountability for operational and fiscal integrity.