SARANAC LAKE — Dozens of artists, businesses owners and other North Country
residents met Tuesday to discuss how to use the arts as an economic driver.

The two-part meeting began with a talk called “The Creative Economy:
Re-imagining Our Rural Downtowns” from the CEO of Proctors Theater in
Schenectady, Philip Morris.

Proctors Morris was hired in 2002 as the region struggled and the theater
faced a daunting future. Since then, the institution has helped bring
economic stability to the city’s downtown.