The event, titled “Engage in Kingsport,” will kick off with two days of planning on February 22nd and 23rd in Kingsport.  A kickoff luncheon on Tuesday will include presentations by Mayor Dennis Phillips and former Mayor Jeannette Blazier.

According to Bonnie Macdonald, Program Administrator for the City of Kingsport’s Cultural Arts Division, the planning initiative resulted from local arts organizations’ recognition that they needed to collaborate to reach creative solutions in today’s challenging economic times.

In addition to the Cultural Art Division, the project will involve the Arts Council of Greater Kingsport, Kingsport Art Guild, Kingsport Ballet, Kingsport Theatre Guild, and the Netherland Inn/Exchange Place Association. The project is being funded in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC).
Ms. Macdonald expressed excitement and optimism about the planning process and the facilitation team. “We have gotten to know Kennedy, Coulter, Rushing & Watson well from their work on the Kingsport Riverwalk master plan and their work with the Tennessee Arts Commission. They are very good at expanding the vision and building consensus among groups like ours,” Ms. Macdonald said.

Last fall, KCRW principals Jim Kennedy and Ann Coulter designed and facilitated a statewide conference for the TAC, titled “Reflect, Recharge, Reset… Working Together in Tough Times.” The conference introduced many of the collaborative planning issues that Kingsport now plans to explore in depth, including strategic preparedness, innovation and sustainability. Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Coulter will be joined by KCRW Director of Strategic Initiatives, Courtney Watson, on the Kingsport project.

Ms. Coulter says the planning firm is looking forward to being back in Kingsport and she applauded the united front being shown by the arts groups. “When times get tough, many non-profit organizations tend get entrenched and self-absorbed. Kingsport’s arts community has obviously seen the advantages of working together,” she said.

Kennedy, Coulter, Rushing & Watson help their clients succeed through customized and collaborative strategic planning, implementation, and ongoing change management. The firm has not only worked with arts organizations across the state of Tennessee but also local governments, educational institutions, companies, and other not-for-profit organizations.
For more information regarding Engage in Kingsport or Kennedy, Coulter, Rushing & Watson, please contact Courtney Watson at 423-648-2500 or visit:  www.kennedycoulter.com.