While it may sound cynical on the surface, it is human nature to look at change from a very personal vantage point. After all, you are asking people to alter course and set their sails for the unknown.  Changing course means taking risks and risks can come with all sorts of political ramifications.

Using the arts as a stimulus for economic growth seems like a no-brainer to those of us involved in the arts; however, for others it’s a new concept. No matter how many articles you throw at them to support your vision, or how many cities you point to with success stories, it’s likely you will still hear, “but it could never work here.” This single statement is like the screeching of chalk on a chalkboard for change makers. Of all the things that will frustrate even the most impassioned group, this single statement will take the wind out of their sails ‘faster than a duck on a June bug.’ So, the evangelical approach to herding cats has its limits. Trust me…we’ve experienced it first hand.

Translating “it could never work here” into something usable may take some thought, but the time spent looking at it from the other guy’s perspective is time well spent.  Unless their statement is backed by solid facts, they are in essence telling you that they are not convinced the effort and risks are worth it. Once you’ve arrived at this juncture in the conversation, there is no turning back. You must now consider the political, monetary, and sociological aspects of your vision. Who are the heroes and heroines in your vision? If the community embraces your idea how will it play out? Obviously, there is no way to guarantee a successful outcome, but you are asking them to put their reputations on the line and for that you will need to mitigate as many of the risks as possible.

Our turning point came in a single meeting of interested parties. Once the dialogue changed from whether it should happen to what is required to ensure success, we knew we had taken the first steps in realizing the vision. The one-on-one meetings prior to the group meeting gave us the lay of the land and were helpful in gauging the pulse of future meetings. Our community had a number of artists residing in the area and a couple of events each year at which they could exhibit their work. What we were suggesting to them in branding the community as an arts destination wasn’t a huge leap, but it was a leap of faith in trusting that it could really happen and in a short span of time.

Herding cats in search of buy in requires patience, an understanding of human nature, and a forgiving attitude for all the toes you are likely to step on in the process of selling your vision.

My husband and I lived in Austin, twenty miles away, for twelve years and never noticed anything special about Elgin. The only impression we had of the town was that of traveling Hwy.290. It looked…well, let’s just say…it didn’t evoke images of a charming little town with lots of cultural potential.

When we turned the corner from Hwy 109 onto Main Street, that’s when it hit us. A brown TxDOT sign with the words “Historical District” flashed in my head like a neon light. We traveled up and down the tree-lined street several times, taking in the historic homes and the charm of the downtown. In less than an hour, our vision of Elgin had been totally transformed.

For all those years traveling from Austin to Houston, we had no idea that Elgin had a gem of a downtown several blocks away. It was charming, architecturally interesting, and bustling with local activity. When we took a closer look, we discovered that Elgin had more elements for success at becoming a great arts destination, than any other city we looked at. We were sold, hook, line, and sinker.

The vision of what Elgin could be haunted us for months before we decided to take up roots here. It was like nothing we had ever experienced. The vision of a culturally vibrant downtown with shops, restaurants, and galleries was crystal clear. The more we researched…the more people we spoke with…the more impassioned we became. We quickly discovered there was no turning back. One meeting led to another and the concept began to take shape. We had embarked, quite unexpectedly, on an adventure that continues to unfold.