"I lived in the Exeter area until I was 18 years old, and I always felt like there was a disconnect between myself and the area. After living in Edinburgh, Scotland for 5 years, a city completely saturated with unified communities of artists, returning to the seacoast was disappointing to see how stifled the artistic culture in this area still was. I know for a fact that there are just as many artists here, but I can’t seem to find them easily. That is, until I started working with Scott Ruffner, Arts Industry Alliance and TEAM, on upcoming events geared toward supporting and drawing out the local artists for celebrations of their work and talents. I have been back in Exeter for nearly two years now, and it wasn’t until I started with this group that I was able to connect with people I haven’t seen or spoken to since High School, as well as meet new artists and newly local individuals from other parts of the world. In the short time that I’ve been working with TEAM/AIA I have seen in the faces of everyone we speak to an openness and excitement I have never been able to draw out of New Englanders too easily. This organization has not only been key to me reconnecting to my hometown but also in reinvigorating my passion for local artist culture and the communities that support them. As a result, this is the first time in my life that I’m actually excited to be here and to be involved in this community; I see the potential for Exeter to become the next artsy townscape with the help of TEAM/AIA, and I’m passionate about seeing that potential into fruition. I am however, disheartened by the road blocks and resistance that is continually put in our path by both the larger arts non-profit organizations on the seacoast and the town boards and committees. If towns like Exeter and Portsmouth, and the state of New Hampshire as a whole, want to retain people like myself in their 20’s, they are going to have to embrace and trust the missions and work of organizations like Arts Industry Alliance and TEAM."
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December 2017
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