Family members of mine attended a friend’s wedding in
Paducah, KY a few months ago, and I’ve been meaning to do some research on
this “SoHo of the South” for awhile now to learn more about it. Thanks to the Christian Science Monitor, my
work was made easy. Read this recent article to get
the lowdown on the creative artistic community that has blossomed along this stretch of the Mississippi. Once known
only for its Quilt Museum, Paducah now boasts gallery walks, cafes, artist
studios, historic home renovations and a brand new $32 million performing arts center. The Lower Town Fine Arts
Festival takes place each May and the River’s Edge Film Festival
is already set for August 17-20, 2006. Excellent reasons to plan a visit, and I’m sure there are more. The CSM article
features Paducah as an example of how rural towns are using incentives like artist relocation programs as a way to
boost struggling economies. Other towns mentioned include Cumberland, MD; Fergus Falls, MN; Hot Springs, AR; and
Arcata, CA. Check out
The 100 Best Small Art
Towns in America for more.