Countdown to the 2011 Future of Music Policy Summit is ON! Programming is pretty much all sewn up, and FMC staff are hustling to make sure your Summit ‘11 experience is everything it can be. We want to see you at Georgetown University in Washington, DC on Oct. 3-4, so register now! As always, we’re offering a limited number of Musician Scholarships — hurry, hurry, super-scurry…

One thing we love about putting on this event every year is meeting musicians and creative entrepreneurs from around the country. It’s always interesting to hear about different scenes and different approaches to making music matter in these tricky times. That’s why we thought it would be interesting to devote a panel to what’s going on out there in the real world. (We do work in Washington, D.C., after all.)

“Local Matters: Music Scenes and Community Building” takes place on tuesday, Oct. 4 at 2:15 PM, and puts a spotlight on cultural communities across the country. We think the description pretty much says it all:

With the economy continuing to sputter along and funding for the arts facing deep cuts, it’s no surprise to hear that local creative communities are struggling. But is this the whole story? Some music scenes are taking things into their own hands and forging a bold new way forward. From creative partnerships between arts and business sectors to audacious efforts in social engagement, musicians and their supporters are making local matter in the 21st century. Improving your community takes more than commitment: it also takes resources. Who is in a position to help? How do you get them to pay attention? How far can you stretch DIY? What tools might make creative community building easier or more efficient? Will what works in one particular location be useful to other towns and cities? What role can music scenes play in American recovery? This panel will highlight the self-determination and self-sufficiency of a few vital local music scenes while providing examples of how your own creative community can thrive in a challenging time for culture.

We want YOU to be part of the converstion. Join experts like Shannon Daut Deputy Director, Western States Arts Federation; Bruce Fife President, AFM, Local 99 & International Vice President, AFM; Ashlye Keaton Professor, Tulane Law School; and Yolanda Hippensteele Consultant, Arts & Democracy Project (moderator) for an up-close look at how music is playing a part in community building and recovery. (And for the flipside to this conversation, be sure to check out the “Federal Infrastructure Extravaganza” panel, which takes place at 4:45 the same afternoon.)