Here is what the media has to say about Fairfield:
"In This Farm Town, Gurus Transcend Party Politics",
Jan 3, 2008
From the front page of the Wall Street Journal (click here), this article describes how Transcendental Meditation has affected politics in Fairfield.
"... this town should be near the top of every traveler's destination list...", Nov 12, 2006
A Washington Post (click here) article in the Arts & Living Travel section (Sunday Nov. 12) describes Fairfield.
"[Fairfield's] lack of convention is part of its charm," says Beth Dalbey, Sept 14, 2006
Prominent Fairfield citizens tell their stories about the creativity and innovation that pervades Fairfield in Beth Dalbey's "Unapologetic Fairfield" article in the Aug-Sept-Oct 2006 issue of the Des Moines Social Magazine.
See a PDF of the article here (requires Adobe Reader). The article includes many photos.
Fairfield Named one of the Top 12 Great Place's You've Never Heard Of, July 20, 2006
"Surprisingly sustainable, and a cosmopolitan town", a few words used to describe Fairfield as it was named one of the top twelve in Mother Earth News: The Original Guide to Living Wisely's "12 Great Places You've Never Heard Of."
Details at the Mother Earth News website.
As Mother Earth News sought out to look for places with beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities, civic pride and a healthy economy with a community of people who care about the environment, sustainability, alternative energy and fresh, and wholesome food. Some well-known's came up, such as Portland, Oregon and Boulder, Colorado, but they wanted unknown great places. They searched for smaller towns that are less expensive, but still interesting.
Fairfield made the cut for it's Ayurvedic health spa, more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, and for having 25 art galleries on the downtown square. (From KMCD News).
Fairfield featured in Iowan Magazine, April 2006
Fairfield has reinvented itself, according to an article in the March/April 2006 issue of Iowan Magazine (as a PDF) (requires Adobe Reader).
To get Adobe Reader, click on the logo. 
Dec 11, 2007... ...from Dec. Iowa Arts Council Newsletter....
"Tools for Results" Tool-kit
-- full newsletter online
The Texas Commission on the Arts has developed a "Tools for Results Tool-kit" as a resource for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across the U.S. The Tool-kit is a collaborative project made possible with the help of the Meadows Foundation and Ballet Austin, and a host of other organizations that generously agreed to share their resources.
The Tool-kit covers six topic areas: Fundraising & Development, Programs & Exhibitions; Cultural Tourism; Marketing, Advocacy and Nonprofit Basics. Each section covers the basics, relevant concepts, best practices, things to consider, ideas for implementing change, common mistakes, ways to get started, do's and don'ts and how-to's on a variety of topics. The "tools" are sample forms, letters, documents, checklists, templates and other resources.
The intent is for nonprofits to take these "tools" and adapt them for their own purposes.
Visit www.arts.state.tx.us/toolkit.
_____________________________
Do you check the Iowa Arts Council Web site frequently?
You should! A few changes and additions they've just made include:
- A "Staff Roles Chart" that gives more information about what each IAC staff person does.
- A new link to Culinary Tourism information on the Iowa Place-Based Foods site.
- Updated information about this year's Poetry Out Loud student poetry recitation competition.
- Two charts on the home page that share information about the IAC's funding and grant distribution.
- A downloadable "Responding to Writing" exercise on the Grant Writing Tips page, that may help grant writers get good feedback on their drafts.
- Resources for Individual Artists.
Go to www.iowaartscouncil.org
_____________________________June 6, 2007... Regional arts and culture groups generate $63.08 million annually
The Iowa Cultural Corridor's (Iowa City-Cedar Rapids) many nonprofit arts and culture organizations generate an estimated $63.08 million annually in regional economic activity. This according to results of a new study conducted by Americans for the Arts and administered by the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA).
The Iowa Cultural Corridor is one of 156 regions that participated in the Americans for the Arts study. The regional study, titled "Arts & Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of Arts and Culture Organizations and their Audiences in the Iowa Cultural Corridor," is part of the most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted.
"The results of this study send a strong signal to our legislators, donors and patrons," said Darcy Bemus, President of the Board of ICCA. "By supporting the many arts and culture organizations of the Corridor, we are also investing in the Iowa Cultural Corridor's economic well-being. Now, more than ever, the arts mean business."
Information: Iowa Cultural Corridor
or Americans for the Arts.
Oct 27, 2006... Fairfield becomes a Great Place
The Department of Cultural Affairs made the announcement today that Fairfield is one of Iowa's Great Places.
See details on the Iowa Great Places website.
Governor Tom Vilsack created the Iowa Great Places program that calls on state agencies to partner with Iowans in a new way by combining state resources with local assets to make Iowa's communities, neighborhoods, districts and regions great places where people want to live, work and raise a family.
The proposal Fairfield submitted included: "Drawing on its arts community, local foods and cultural richness, Fairfield's vision works to expand the dynamic economy through a new Civic Center, marketing plan and business incubator, and an investors' roundtable. It works to improve the natural beauty, redeveloping its downtown streetscape, restoring the Maasdam Barns and implementing a bikeway/walkway plan for the community. It enhances educational opportunities with its community supported radio station, sustainable living educational opportunities and educational kiosks. It works to cultivate the cultural richness and recreational opportunities through a trails system, a Vedic Observatory, and its 1st Friday Art Walk. It works to strengthen opportunities for community philanthropy and enhances art projects around the area."
Oct 20, 2006... New event calendar
A new Fairfield calendar has appeared, brought to you by FairfieldToday.com in partnership with The Fairfield Weekly Reader.
April 2006...Cultural District signs installed
"Cultural District" signs, supplied by the State, were installed on East and West Burlington Ave., North 2nd Street, and South Main Street.
November 2005...Cultural District approved
The Cultural District was approved by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and Cultural District signs were presented to the City by Anita Walker, Director.
See the state website.
October 2005...Iowa Tourism Event of the Year
Fairfield's 1st Fridays Art Walk was named the Iowa Tourism Event of the Year in October of 2005 by the Iowa Tourism Office and the Travel Federation of America. See the 1st Fridays Art Walk website.
July 2005...Fairfield Cultural Alliance formed
The Fairfield Cultural Alliance was formed to administer the Fairfield Cultural District. Elected President of the Board of Directors was David Dubois.
© Copyright 2006-2008 Fairfield Cultural Alliance. All rights reserved.