By JASMINE MAHMOUD | November 5, 2009

On the heels of yesterday’s mini-interview with Seattle City Council Candidate turned Councilmember-elect, Sally Bagshaw, here’s another Issue 2 sneak peak. Elizabeth Glidden, a current Minneapolis, MN City Councilmember for Ward 8, ran for re-election in Tuesday’s campaign. I spoke with her a few weeks ago to learn more about arts policy and the arts landscape in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis is pretty neat. Second to New York City in theater per capita, Minneapolis is flush with renown established and emerging arts centers and artists, and has rich arts policy resources, planning and results (for example, the Clean Water Amendment and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, where arts economist Ann Markusen researches). Glidden is also pretty neat. She is a violinist and a policymaker who spearheaded support for the resident-led Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center and worked with Ann Markusen to harness local artist conversations that resulted in the first artists-only business association. She also has a laudable “Arts” tab on her Council website. →