The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority’s Artspace Artist Market Survey deadline has been extended until Feb.1

So if you know of any artist or arts organization, please send them a note and ask them to fill out the survey.

The East Dearborn Development Authority (EDDDA), in partnership with the City of Dearborn, continues exploring a new and creative approach to a potential economic development project with Artspace, the nation’s leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts.

The Artspace mission is to create, foster and preserve affordable space that serves the needs of artists and arts organizations of all disciplines. These activities contribute to the continued growth of the arts community thus enhancing the cultural and economic vitality of the surrounding community. This results in these nationwide projects being community driven.

So how do you take the survey? Go to www.ArtSpaceDearborn.org (which will be live through February 1, 2011 – it only takes 10 minutes to complete, you do NOT have to be a Dearborn resident and also be sure to click to “Submit” button at the end to ensure it is processed.)

All of our lives are touched by art; look around and see the greatness it fills in our lives. Dearborn has a deep rooted and well established arts and cultural community with many existing cultural resources.

The arts and cultural industry is one of growth and has a direct economic impact on the community. Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations support more jobs then other fields, such as accountants, lawyers, public safety officers or teachers. The arts and culture industry attracts audiences, increases tourism, spurs business development and generates revenue.

With its distinct and vibrant marketplace of people, food and cultures as well as the $70 million mixed use development completed at Michigan and Schaefer, East Downtown Dearborn is well positioned to support an innovative and creative project such as the proposed Artspace.

So if you’re an artist (or you know an artist) working in any discipline (graphic design, sculpting, dance, music, writing, fashion design, painting, theater, crafts, etc), you need to participate in this survey. The results will help Artspace developers understand the living, studio and business space preferences for the creative community in metro Detroit, and demonstrate to funders how important new space is to artists and organizations in the region.

And if you’re not an artist but work with a cultural arts organization or business that serves the creative community (coffee shops, art supply and paint stores, galleries, theater companies, book stores, publishers, design firms, social service organizations, etc), your input is wanted, too.

Please visit the Artspace website at www.artspace.org to learn more about the organization and its success in other communities.