Growing Inward: Rebuilding the City Center is sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council, Columbus Urban Growth Corporation, Columbus Metropolitan Club, Greater Columbus Arts Council and 35 other non-profits and corporations. Speakers who are experts in urban planning, architecture, economic development, preservation, education and transportation address local elected officials, journalists, neighborhood activists and community leaders about plans that have worked elsewhere, approaches that don't work and why. The resulting discussions are provocative.

Ideas discussed in the forum so far this year include Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister's vision of rural job creation and farmland preservation that is not anti-growth. "It's smart growth," she said in her January presentation. In February, architect and author Craig Whitaker cautioned that developments designed with pedestrians in mind are laudable, but pedestrian malls are largely a bust. He said the best plans include a series of narrow streets to help define areas as public spaces.

On Wednesday, May 13, Bruce Katz, director of the Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy at the Brookings Institution, will share new strategies to make city neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work.

"This series has impact because we are providing information about city revitalization to people who are interested and those who are instrumental in bringing about change," said Beth Fisher, Ohio Arts Council public information director.

For more information about the Growing Inward series and upcoming speakers call the Ohio Arts Council at 614/ 466-2613 or consult the Upcoming Events listing on the Internet at www.oac.ohio.gov.