Film producers Travis Pollert and Luke Frazier premiered their documentary short about the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, “Hidden in Plain View” at the Cleveland International Film Festival last year and Frazier’s opening narration resonates about how simple it is to forget the many small parts that go into a large piece of work.
“When you overlook the meaning of something, it can easily become hidden, even in plain sight,” he says.
The meaning behind the Cultural Gardens, the subject of this month’s Uniquely Cleveland, had been forgotten for a while. While vivid memories of World War I’s carnage prompted ethnic groups to honor their culture and not their warfare, there was only a mild impetus after World War II to create additional cultural gardens. Some of them suffered vandalism and decay until revitalization efforts, including a master plan that in the past few decades turned around the situation and built enthusiasm.
Now, Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation President Sheila Crawford says up to 12 countries’ organizations are interested in garden sites, such as Spain, France, Australia, Austria, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Such interest is encouraging, and it is a testament to efforts to preserve the meaning of the gardens and the culture celebrated.
Culture isn’t only a nationality subject; it’s a company concern that’s often discussed. David Dourgarian, a guest columnist on our website, writes how by shifting aspects of his company’s culture from default mode to something that felt more intentional, the company reaped benefits in less than a year.
One of his observations: including all employees in company social events, even a flash mob, allowed customers to see that the company wasn’t fragmented at all, but united toward a common goal — helping them succeed.
“After the flash mob, our guests chatted and danced with everyone from payroll clerks to software engineers. Inviting all levels of staff shows you appreciate them and trust them,” he says.
So there is more to culture than what meets the eye. It could be hidden in plain view. But it takes intentional action to bring it out from the recesses of shadows that can pull us away.
Dennis Seeds is editor-at-large of Smart Business Magazine.
