HEATWOLE'S STATE VISION - West Virginia
Wild and Wonderful - What?
12 years ago David Heatwole and his wife moved to the state of West Virginia. After living here for two years they began adopting children from the state and abroad. During this time they have learned that the slogan is indeed true for the state but not always in a positive way. With David volunteering as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and his wife working closely with the children of the area the two see closely how the state needs some radical changes for the better.
Mission: I will help the state of West Virginia become recognized as a leader in the arts nationally and to assist it's economy by making it a tourist destination for the arts internationally.
Problem: West Virginia is the 11th poorest state in the country partially due to lack of industry, but the state overall has a good tourism industry primarily due to its beauty and outdoor recreation. (http://www.povertyusa.org/the-state-of-poverty/poverty-map-state/) Solution: Make more jobs. Create a sense of ownership in the state, for the state, amongst its people. Using the arts, and artists' visions, we can create new industry by manufacturing unique artistic products in state, and marketing it worldwide. By engaging people in making art we can also create industry, but it is going to take those with marketing skills to work side by side with artists to make this vision a reality. Once established we can create a network of support within the state for the Art Ambassadors International program, and become the one state where artists, and visionaries of the art world are “hosted.” When necessary artists will come to the state to be trained in the art of collaborative arts, and supported in their work, they will be encouraged to develop and lead particular projects that can help a targeted community of their choice. West Virginia will also be the first host state for an annual (biennial to start) World Assembly of Visionary Artists until the Arts Ambassadors International is well established and state by state Arts Ambassador's can host the Assemblies. |