World-Herald Editorial: The benefits from Bemis

Last month, Wired magazine praised Omaha as an up-and-coming city for its cultural amenities. “It’s only the 42nd-largest city in the U.S.,” the magazine said, “but over the past two decades, Omaha has been transformed into one of the Midwest’s most vibrant cultural hubs.”

Wired also wrote: “Livable cities draw creative people, and creative people spawn jobs. Some places you’d never expect — small cities not dominated by a university — are learning how to lure knowledge workers, entrepreneurs, and other imaginative types at levels that track or even exceed the U.S. average (30 percent of workers).”

Omaha was on that list of cities, and it certainly was appropriate that Wired’s list of cultural amenities here included the Bemis Center, one of Omaha’s foremost artistic institutions.

The Bemis is widely recognized for its excellence and ambition and has built impressive connections to national leaders in our country’s artistic circles. For example, the internationally known artist Christo has served as a member of the Bemis board.

When the Bemis was founded in 1981 by artists Jun Kaneko, Ree Schonlau, Tony Hepburn and Lorne Falke, it was a farsighted, remarkable move. The area of the Old Market devoted to restaurants and retail at that time was far smaller than today, and the Bemis was locating in an area regarded as off-the-map for serious redevelopment.

The success of the Bemis — which now is expanding its artists residency program from 24 to 36 artists a year — has proved the soundness of that vision.

Today the Bemis marks its 30th anniversary, and starting at noon, Omahans can tour the center at 12th and Leavenworth Streets. The newly renovated third floor includes five new studios and 8,000 square feet of project space. Admission is free.

It’s a great opportunity to appreciate Omaha’s growing contemporary art scene and salute the key institution that has helped make it possible.

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