When we describe the creative potential of a place, the RiffRaff Arts Collective is a wonderful case in point. The Collective is a 10,000 square foot center of creative gravity that is breathing life into the once-dying Mercer Street in downtown Princeton, WV.
Robert Blankenship and Lori McKinney are the co-founders of RiffRaff. They have poured their hearts and minds into the project and built it from the ground up. It's music, art, recording and art studios...What is so important about their example is their youth, maturity and the persistence of their vision. They also happen to be the organizers of CultureFest and founded the Option 22 band. If you can develop or attract talented young people like Robert and Lori to your community, chances are good that a bright future is ahead of you.
Recently, Lori and Robert hosted a Create WV Summit for Mercer County. Over 40 community-minded folks from across Mercer County spent the afternoon learning about and discussing the potential of the creative and high-tech economy in the area. With RiffRaff in Princeton and the House of Art in Bluefield (not to mention the spanking new Chuck Mathena Center in Princeton), the region has powerful artistic and cultural momentum building.
Combine the local educational centers of Bluefield State University and Concord University (including the Rahall Technology Center), the natural beauty and pleasant high-altitude climate, and you have the makings of one of the next great creative communities on the East Coast. Watch this area in the coming years!
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