Buffalo: Back on Top
The April 2008 issue of AmericanStyle has proclaimed Buffalo as “No. 1 Arts Destination for Mid-Sized Cities” in the publication’s annual “Top 25 Arts Destinations” poll. For more than a decade, arts travelers have trusted the magazine’s annual poll to guide them to emerging arts scenes and cultural meccas.
AmericanStyle stated that Buffalo received votes from across the country touting the Queen City as “a hidden jewel” and “a well-kept secret.” The magazine cited construction of the new Burchfield-Penney Arts Center, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the addition of Artspace Buffalo to the scene, and a commitment to the arts from City of Buffalo Mayor Bryon Brown as reasons why Buffalo is a top-tier arts destination.
In the October, the annual AmericanStyle poll asked art lovers to nominate their favorite destinations. The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau took notice and led the effort to regain the top spot as a way to dramatically aid its marketing efforts. The CVB encouraged its partners, colleagues, and professional contacts to vote for Buffalo as a top arts destination in the country.
Buffalo placed first over Scottsdale, AZ, Pittsburgh, PA, Savannah, GA, and New Orleans in the Mid-Size Cities category. Other notable mid-size cities included: Cleveland (No. 7), Atlanta (No. 8) Minneapolis (No. 10), Rochester (No. 14), Miami (No. 15) and St. Louis (No. 25). In 2007 Buffalo ranked as the No 14 destination in the mid-sized category.
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Sundial
Buffalo's great art and architecture is underappreciated. When the FLW projects are completed, we can really tout them to the outside world and draw in more tourism.
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Matthewjohnp
Yeah can't wait for the FLR gas station.
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styler
If only the city of Buffalo spent money on advertising, I would imagine we could use this to enhance our image beyond the audience of American Style. There's a whole lot of smug people north of the border and more metropolitan areas of our own state that should take notice.
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TheWhyNotGuy
This is great PR for Buffalo, but I'd be a lot happier if the BNC&VB trusted us to win on our merits, not by finessing the poll.
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PaulBuffalo
Buffalo is my hometown and I think of it fondly, but I would disagree with the magazine's premise that Buffalo is the number one arts destination for mid-sized cities. Most of the other cities listed above are stronger based on art gallery space alone; however, Buffalo is getting its act together and does deserve applause as a niche player.
Now, if only the city/county could install signage to aid tourists who want to access these attractions. Make the city user-friendly.
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BuffedOut
I think that art professionals should be making the declaration, not peopelwho have some sort of vested interest, such as the CVB.
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gaustad
Styler - excellent point!!
City Hall really needs to exploit news like this to attract visitors.
The marketing team in this city is terrible; does Buffalo even have a marketing dept?
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chris69
I wonder if EC will ever release the Bed Tax to the CVB to market our city
I wonder if the Burchfield Penny was build to small and perhaps should have been built right to the corner of Elmwood and Forest
I wonder if the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino will be philanthropic to Buffalos culturals and charities
I wonder after the Burchfield is finished and the Albright is expanded if our culturals need to consider another cultural center in a different location like say the eastside or downtown museum districts
I wonder with the growth of Buffalo State and the growth of the culturals if we really need to think about reactivating the Beltway for Light Rail.
One thing does come to mind and that is that Buffalo is rich through legacy culture and ematiated, especially with regard to the classical arts...it seems we have demolished and sold off much of our classical legacies.
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RisingDamp666
Buffalo is already the Number One destination for idling your truckload of crap at the bridge to Canada and now this! What an embarrassment of riches! I'm going out to spend some extra money for a mocha cappucino!
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RisingDamp666
Buffalo is already the Number One destination for idling your truckload of crap at the bridge to Canada, and now this! What an embarrassment of riches! I'm going out to spend some extra money for a mocha cappucino!
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impressingagent
buffalo needs to win more awards like this, save the art professionals for sports teams.
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SusanMarie1971
This is amazing news. Finally. We are being recognized for something this city is so rich in.
Being out and about in literally every genre underground and above ground in all scenes, this makes me feel good to see. There are so many hidden jewels here you can live here your entire life and never see all of them. I am attempting to see and be a part of as much as I can. Excellent article.
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xanbuf
I agree with the idea of needing to make this city more user friendly to those who move here and those who visit the "#1 Art destination". For example, to get to the marina is almost impossible without asking someone who knows how to get there. To find out that the BP was located in the BState campus was always a surprise to my guests. Signs and pedestrian/bike friendly advertisements would help those who read this AmericanStyle article and decide to check it out.
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Perry
Great news! Doesn't matter if the poll is scientific or not - Buffalo is receiving some due recognition.
Buffedout - any city's CVB is responsible for marketing their region - this is gurilla marketing at its finest.
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Perry
Great news! Doesn't matter if the poll is scientific or not - Buffalo is receiving some due recognition.
Buffedout - any city's CVB is responsible for marketing their region - this is gurilla marketing at its finest.
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sbrof
fantastic news :)
I don't think it can be considered too contrived because most people probably didn't even know about it. Maybe the CVB got involved but I would bet that a bulk of the votes probably came from people in the arts field because they are the most vested and interested in this award.
either way great news.
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phenimore
It's great to see that we have enough people in Buffalo interested in the arts to add their voices to this poll. Now, I think it's an opportunity for local artists and supporters to show up and make this a reality. Just a few days ago I read a quote on the Buffalo First website that said: "Local businesses are unique: The unique character of Buffalo is what brought us here and will keep us here. Our tourism businesses also benefit. When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them a sense of being someplace, not just “anyplace” ~Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust." I was immediately struck by the idea of this being about art just as much as business. We should have a city-wide focus on making Buffalo a destination by individual contribution. If that means developing a community art project, supporting local artists by commissioning a project or purchasing a piece or just going out of your way to network out into the community of artists to encourage them to create; it doesnt have to be something big, but it has to be something. Everyone has some idea on how to make Buffalo a unique and better place, in short, a destination.
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davvid
Its good news, of course. It helps
It will be a very good sign when positive messages about Buffalo are not presented in a "diamond in the rough" context. The positive news about Buffalo in the national media seems to be too often about the surprise and unexpectedness.
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This article reminds me for some reason of the deaccession controversy and how little those artifacts will be missed. The Albright Knox continues to be bold and meet a global standard. At a smaller scale, something like Soundlab or hallwalls similarly participate globally by providing a space for relevant non-local and buzzworthy local artists to perform or present. There is a huge difference between these progressive cultural efforts and something as retro as a FLWright gas station, boathouse or mausoleum. In a city that is forced to do more with less funding, sharper curatorial decisions need to be made. It might seem snobbish but FLW is passe and the Allentown Art Festival seems to get worse every year.
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