Cost of living is low, crime is minimal, the neighbors know each other, schools are great, historic downtowns quaint, college campuses near-by, retirees and urban refugees are fueling growth, the entrepreneurial spirit prevails, and a tourist population keeps the natives happy and the economy secure. The difference between Mariposa and these other towns is that we are graced with these small town amenities to such a level as to incite envy of the greenest variety. Yosemite and the Sierra National Forest are impossible to beat for their world-wide natural appeal, cost of living here is one of the lowest in the state, as the Mother of Counties in the Gold Rush, Mariposa can't be more significant in the history of the west, we've got the newest campus in the University of California system in our backyard, and our low crime rate, schools, and friendliness only cinches our lead. As the title suggests, the arts have become a unifying force and fuel for their recovery and resurgence. Kids can walk home from school in safety, and the local cops know the name of nearly every teenager in town.
Crime rates are reassuringly low.
And each year this phenomenon takes root in even more small communities from coast to coast. After careful study of Villani's book and the cities mentioned therein, it becomes clear that Mariposa has most of the necessary ingredients to become Central California's premiere arts venue. Furture installments in this series will compare Mariposa more thoroughly with other art towns, exploring some of the creative approaches taken to guarantee their artistic and financial success. We will also explore what necessary ingredients are required for success, and what roll artists, community leaders, and arts groups are playing to put Mariposa on Villani's list. Mariposa's Future is Art - Part Two.