Submitted article--The Board of Misty Isles Economic Development Society (MIEDS) voted October 15 to support the continuance of the Art Route initiative on-island by accepting the offer of the QCI Arts Council to take over project coordination. "As a regional economic development organization, MIEDS recognizes the economic importance of the arts community on Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands," said Board Chair, Cory Delves. "Any effort to support the economics of the arts sector on a regional basis is a good fit for MIEDS." Jim Green, CEO is leading the charge to establish a Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Island presence at Vancouver International Airport and sees Art Route as a small but significant step in that direction. "It gets us talking to artisans and gallery owners and more familiar with their products. We are pleased that the Arts Council approached us," said Mr. Green.MIEDS, incorporated in January, represents all five non-Haida political areas of the Islands: three villages and two electoral districts. Its intent is to help achieve increased coordination, collaboration and implementation of island-wide economic development priorities and to respond to business partnerships with the Haida communities for the collective benefit of all people of the Islands. "Art Route is a great example of community economic development. It was started from the ground-up by a group of artists who saw the benefits it would bring to them, their peers and the islands, and within that, a tourism product was established in the self-guided tour. It is a formula for success, and we are really excited to be a part of it," said Anneli Rosteski, MIEDS Executive Director. Ms Rosteski said MIEDS will work closely with the QCI Arts Council to support island art events that provide exposure to local artists. To ensure Art Route remains responsive to the community, MIEDS will set up a small working committee to steer the project. Islanders are welcome to contact MIEDS at 250-557-4341 or mieds@qcislands.net .