Growing a Community Through the Arts

In 2010, a series of meetings was initiated in order to develop a comprehensive community vision, brand, and plan for Nebraska City’s community economic development.  We called it the “Arbor City initiative" at the suggestion of economic development consultant, John Rhodes.  Rhodes suggested Nebraska City would benefit from exploiting its relationship with the Arbor Day Foundation and Arbor Day Farm. The general idea was that if Nebraska City capitalized on and enhanced its most defining characteristics those which distinguish our town from all others, a community brand could be developed that would bolster our economic development. The brand, once adopted and utilized throughout the community would make the job of promoting Nebraska City to current and new residents and businesses much easier. 

Early on it was decided the initiative would not take the form of a formal organization.  Instead, volunteer committees, work groups, existing community organizations, and most importantly, private citizens, would come together to agree upon a common vision, establish priorities, and communicate progress toward achieving the prioritized goals to improve Nebraska City. 

This community art project, known now as “An Enchanted Arboretum,” was selected as the top priority with input from the community by the initiative. Now with financial support from community foundations and local civic organizations, the initiative takes the next steps forward to welcome professional and emerging artists to take part in creating an artful forest in the hometown of J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day. In the end, 25 six-foot art trees add to the splendor that is Nebraska City.