Artistic expression is wide ranging in form, pervasive at all socio-economic levels, derives from all age groups and is timeless in nature. Artistic expression also is not driven by or pertinent to economic cycles. Almost all people have been gifted with artistic talent in some form, excluding perhaps the author of this paper. Many are multi-talented. Many also seek a legitimate and reproducible venue through which artistic expression is welcome.

I propose the establishment and eventual institutionalization of an annual six week long festival of the arts to be held from June 15^th through August 1^st throughout Knox County. The festival would be totally devoted to the artistic expression of Knox County residents [and outside guests] who are willing to participate. Forms of artistic expression would be unlimited and organized in cells, each with its own venue or venues. All forms of artistic expression would be invited, including but not limited to the following:

• All forms of musical expression
• Literature and poetry
• Visual arts such as painting, sculpture, mixed media and so on
• Architectural expression
• The culinary arts
• Body art of all types
• Folk art [self taught] primitive, traditional and contemporary
• Decorative arts revolving around autos and other objects of daily encounter
• Artists from penal institutions
• Children’s art
• Photography & cinematography
• Ethnic traditional art and costume
• Clothing design and artistic expression
• The performing arts including plays, skits, comedy, dance, ballet

Organization would be in the form of an available matrix or scaffold upon which virtually all forms of artistic endeavors can plug into. Similar in style to the World Olympics, The County as a whole with its many available sites would serve as the matrix. The matrix would be the very structure of the festival.

Participation wound not be limited, but all inclusive. The festival mission or foundation principle would be the opportunity for artistic expression among one‘s peers. All forms of artistic expression and venues would revolve around this principle and reference to a central mission - the opportunity for artistic expression. There would be no implicit or explicit hierarchy or delineation for the various venues or forms of expression.

It is presumed, but by no means proven or clearly anticipated that:

• This would be a unique undertaking. No other county in America would have done it.
• The opportunity to participate in a particular form of artistic expression every year would draw visitors from elsewhere continuously throughout the six week period, thus providing a steady influx of cash for various businesses in the area.
• The opportunity for residents to anticipate an annual gathering of artistic colleagues would enhance the quality life for residents and visitors alike.
• The festival would provide a way for people who are interested in a particular form of expression to connect with others, thus providing new opportunities for groups to form with a common purpose.
• For some county residents the Festival would be a means by which this area could redefine itself from within.
• The Festival would be a means by which Knox County could project positive differentiation to the outside, a key element in any successful marketing program. Knox County would not be seen as just another "me-too" semi-industrial rural area. Door County, Wisconsin is a clear example of this type of image projection.
• The Festival would enhance the overall image of the area and attract more people to the area permanently with either business or retirement interests in mind.

Other annual events that occur in various communities in Knox county tend to be organized and administered from the inside out. A committee is established which provides a considerable share of both the macro and the micro structure of the event. A six week festival as this is proposed would revolve around a central mission or purpose. A board of directors would be organized which would then appoint an overall festival leader. The emphasis would be upon leadership and not management. The leader would provide the festival with an artistic expression matrix or event scaffold. The matrix would be composed of the sum total of available sites, dates and times for the various artistic expression groups who would all together make up the six week continuously running festival. The matrix would literally be six weeks long, seven days per week. The key element to keep in mind would be organization from the outside in. Each artistic expression group would be self directed and be responsible for plugging into the matrix, providing its own news releases, announcements and so.

It would be essential that the Festival be viewed by all residents from all socio-economic levels as all inclusive. All forms of artistic expression would be welcome. A standard of absolute inclusiveness would be both implicit and explicit. Artistic expression would revolve around and be first and foremost linked directly to the "celebration" of the arts. Symphonic musicians, folk artists, poets and tattoo artists would all be on one level playing field, all part of one central purpose - the collective celebration of the arts through expression.

The main purpose for this paper is to stimulate thought and ideas, elicit feedback and perhaps dream a little for the people of our county and region.

The author of this proposal is a self employed marketing, sales and service provider involved in orthopaedics who is devoid of artistic talent. His father, Jack Wilson is a retired professional artist whose artistic expression began in the form of charcoal drawings while he was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II.