Friday, August 29, 2008

PARK(ing) DAY - unleash your street’s creative potential!

Park(ing) Day is an annual celebration of transforming parking spaces into temporary public parks. And it’s coming to your town, September 19th.

Around the nation, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel, and more pollution. Did you know that more than 70% of most cities’ outdoor space is dedicated to private vehicles, while only a fraction of that land is allocated to open space for people?

Park(ing) Day began in a single metered parking spot in San Francisco and has spread around the world.  People who want more open space, less traffic, and safer streets have joined together to rethink the way streets are used.  Shouldn’t public spaces and places be for people? 

Want to get involved?  Come to a Park(ing) Day brainstorming meeting at CreateHere. Talk, imagine, and plan your own public park!
Que: Park(ing) Day Meeting
Cuando: 5:30 PM, Thursday, September 4, 2008
Donde: CreateHere, 55 E Main Street, Suite 105

Check out these websites for pictures, videos, How To guides, and background info: parkingday.org and tpl.org/parkingday.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Celebrate Labor Day under the Shade Tree at Rock City

Need Labor Day plans?  Check out the lineup for Rock City’s Labor Day Old Time Music Festival! 

Take in live music under the Shade Tree at Lovers Leap from 12 noon to 8 PM, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Head up Lookout Mountain to hear local favorites, such as Matt Evans and Friends, Rick Davis, Butch Ross and Amanda Cagle, and the New Binkley Brothers.

Check out the Labor Day lineup here!

Friday, August 15, 2008

The Necessary Tools

The Necessary Tools
Healthcare is an essential, though difficult, addition to any artist’s toolbox

For artists and be-my-own-boss-types alike, the stress of finding insurance is often reason enough to give-up on the whole enterprise. The epic quest for affordable coverage requires bravery, discipline and an appreciation for music of the “You’ve Been Put on Hold Indefinitely” genre. Of course, the high cost of even the most basic medical treatments testifies to the importance of reliable healthcare, but with the investment of time—and of course money—required, it can be difficult for the self-employed to justify the hassle. A little know-how can get you started in the right direction.

First and foremost, there’s the government. Many programs, both federal and state, exist to pay for your healthcare costs, though you may find that qualifying for Uncle Sammy’s dollars requires an extenuating circumstance. Cover Tennessee provides healthcare for children and seriously ill individuals who have been denied healthcare elsewhere. Those over 65 can benefit from Medicare, and low-income families have Medicaid at their disposal. Most notably, CoverTN, one of four divisions in the Cover Tennessee network, finds ways to insure the employees of small businesses across the state.

As an individual seeking healthcare independently, it’s helpful to think outside the box. Let’s imagine you’ve been employed by A Company Fortunate Enough to Find a Genius Like You, Incorporated, which has generously provided you with a benefits package that includes healthcare. Because this company is staffed with 800 or so other geniuses, you all get cheaper insurance rates. You benefit, collectively, from your individual employment.

Enter the private group provider, a type of organization that simulates a large company for the purposes of providing insurance to its members. Group providers connect artists with bunches of uninsured brethren, i.e. your fellow geniuses. The idea is that there is strength (and discount) to be had when these bundles of artists approach insurance companies as a collective, rather than as individual policy-buyers. Enrolling in a private group provider gives the shopper access to rates that those working for larger companies enjoy. Enjoyment whilst shopping for insurance. It’s genius.

There are a few names in the private group provider industry worth knowing. With Freelancers Union, members have access to health insurance as well as dental, disability and term life policies for the particularly ambitious. Fractured Atlas, a provider some 50,000-members strong, can also connect artists in Tennessee with an appropriate healthcare plan through Aetna. And there’s Assurant Health, which helps with financing your healthcare and works with several nation-wide insurance companies providing both short- and long-term policies.

Goodness, it sounds so easy, but the buyer beware: insurance companies recommended by group providers are not legally bound to accept group bids. While Freelancers Union and Fractured Atlas have enormous clout because of their sheer size, it’s still not a sure thing. Ever.

Should you so choose to forgo insurance, there are many prescription assistance programs operated by non-profits and pharmaceutical companies. The government is also willing to offset prescription drug costs from time to time.

And then there’s the jive. Mercifully, many providers and advocacy groups offer resources for learning the romantic language of health insurance—and there are volumes dedicated to its pursuit. This proves incredibly helpful since different companies provide different types of coverage: you can do some powerful comparison-shopping when you understand the jargon. Hit me with an HAS for my PPO, you’ll tell them, you genius.

Keep in mind, even the most well-informed smooth talker can come up against major pratfalls. Age, medical history and income can all play a decisive role in whether or not you qualify for healthcare and how much it will cost should you score a policy. Additionally, it gets tricky when you want to insure yourself as well as a partner, family member, or group of employees. But you’re not alone in your search for affordable healthcare, little genius. That much, if only that much, is certain.

By Veronique Bergeron

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Call to Artists

The Maryville Civic Arts Center
Project Description
A new, 47-million dollar cultural center is currently being constructed on the campus of Maryville College, located in Maryville, Tennessee. The new Civic Arts Center will be a destination for the arts for Eastern Tennessee and the region, and will include a 1200 seat theater and 250-seat recital hall, a 200-seat flexible theater, three exhibition spaces, workshops, classrooms and offices.  The majestic entry lobby, as well as the Center’s exterior arts plaza, will be the focal point for a myriad of corporate, community and college events. 
Information about the Civic Arts Center can be found at the website http://www.civicartscenter.org, and includes updates on the progress of construction as well as information about the site plan, donors and Maryville College.
There will be a significant fine arts component to the new cultural center. This part of the project is open to established, professional artists living in the United States and abroad. The aim is to acquire works of the highest quality, and will include both regional artists and those artists living and working internationally. The primary criteria will be the level of expertise and quality of past work exhibited by each artist, as well as suitability of that work for the site.
Art Locations
Fine artwork is being sought for a variety of areas within the building and in exterior locations. These works may include sculpture, painting, photography and video art, installation/environmental art, textile design, glass, ceramic art, and wood. Appropriate artworks may include two dimensional paintings for interior wall surfaces, exterior free standing sculpture or relief sculpture; pedestal-sized sculpture; and possibly the design of the theater curtain and prominent entrance doors. 
Criteria
All artists wishing to be considered must be proficient in their stated media, with a strong exhibition history and demonstrated expertise in their field. Submissions must take the form of no more than five (5) digital images of the artist’s most recent work, in jpeg format only, and include:
• The title, size, media and an explanation of each work depicted, including location.
• A CV or resume detailing exhibitions and other accomplishments. 
• Price range of past works, including commissions, if applicable. 
• Team members, if appropriate, if the artist typically employs structural engineers, fabricators or other subcontractors;
• Contractual relationships with galleries or private art dealers;
• Artist’s full contact information, including day and evening phone numbers, address and email. 
All submissions will be accepted via CD-Rom or flash drives only. Each individual CD Rom or flash drive must be clearly labeled with the artist’s name. CD Rom disks and flash drives will not be returned.  These should be forwarded to the Civic Arts Center’s architect, McCarty Holsaple McCarty.  Make sure the envelope is marked Fine Arts Program and forward to:
Jeff Johnson
McCarty Holsaple McCarty, Inc. 
550 W. Main Street, Suite 300  
Knoxville, TN 37902
Deadlines
Submission deadline is September 30, 2008. Submissions will be reviewed in October, with a short list presented to the Fine Arts Committee of the Maryville College Civic Arts Center by the end of the month.  Final decisions on artists to be considered for commissions or acquisitions of non-commissioned works will be made by the Fine Arts Committee. Artists will be notified via email.  It is the policy of Maryville College and the Civic Arts Center not to discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin or disability in its hiring and employment practices. No person shall be excluded from participation in or be discriminated against in treatment or employment on the grounds of handicap and/or disability, age, race, color, religion, gender, or national origin.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Listen up: Chattanooga Featured on “Smart City”!

CreateHere Creative Strategists Helen Johnson and Josh McManus can be heard this week online and as a podcast on Smart City, the weekly, hour-long public radio talk show that takes an in-depth look at urban life, including the people, places, ideas and trends shaping cities.

Johnson and McManus were taped in a remote interview conducted at WUTC. Said Johnson, ” Host Carol Coletta led the discussion, probing the work of CreateHere to ask about specific programs, as well as asking for our definition of contemporary mentorship and ‘urbanite.’ We pointed out that Chattanooga has been hard at work for the last 30 years, building, or rather, rebuilding a city that had lost sight of its assets. Now the emphasis has shifted to people-building, within the structures that exist.  Cities across the country are competing for talent.  The type of grassroots programs that CreateHere can offer not only act as a calling card for talented individuals, but provide resources to sustain and build stronger and more equipped entrepreneurs, citizens and emerging leaders.”

The two CreateHere team members met Colleta at the recent CEOs for Cities conference in New Orleans. They were familiar with Smart City and delighted to accept the invitation to be heard on it.

“This has been a program from which we have learned a great deal over the past year,” said Johnson.  “Smart City offers the opportunity to engage in multiple topics revolving around the development of successful cities.  To be able to share our experiences with others provides opportunity to have the attention of Smart City’s listeners pointed in Chattanooga’s direction.”

-by Janis Hashe

Listen up! The interview is posted on the web and on podcast!

Thursday, August 07, 2008

“Here to Help”

Presentation to the Rotary Club of Chattanooga
By Josh McManus
August 7th, 2008

Good afternoon.  It’s a privilege and an honor to stand before you today.  I’m truly excited to be here, as Corrinne’s invitation has offered me the opportunity to discuss three of my favorite things.

First though, I would like to say that I stand before you as one voice speaking on behalf of many.  The words that I’m about to share with you are in large part not my own.  They belong to scores of bright, young, innovative, and creative people, some of whom are here to visit with you today.  They also belong to countless mentors who have invested unselfishly in the development of many, many emerging leaders.  Furthermore, these words belong to my co-founder, Helen Johnson, who has shared every responsibility of leadership and accountability for the efforts that I’m about to discuss with you. And most importantly, they belong to my wife Kristy, whose time in Leadership Chattanooga opened our eyes to the future of this city we call home and who has supported me in pursuing my dreams for the entirety of our eleven years together.

Now, here are a few of my favorite things:
1. Chattanooga
2. Creativity
3. Entrepreneurship. In particular today, I’d like to talk about one entrepreneur who has left a lasting impact on Chattanooga and many other places.

Before we talk specifics, let me tell you a bit about CreateHere. 

CreateHere is:

As a team of emerging leaders and as a movement of concerned citizens, we share common principles.  Specifically, we….
Enjoy and protect what is authentically ‘Chattanooga,’
Dialogue about the potential for our city’s bright future.
Invest energy into a groundswell of change in our city’s neighborhoods and marketplaces
Encourage a spirit of entrepreneurship, creativity, and stewardship of our natural landscape.
Foster innovation, creation of businesses, and sustainable development.
Develop and invest in social initiatives that cut through the knot of poverty and liberate human potential.
Challenge the inequalities of educational and economic opportunity by supporting public education and patronizing locally owned businesses.
Put out the welcome mat to people around the world, showing them that Chattanooga provides abundant opportunities to better themselves and their community.

We have pledged to each other and this city that we love….
To make the world a better place, starting at home.
To reset the expectations for our city to achieve greatness.
To see the real world not as something that happens to us, or even around us, but as something that is made of what we believe and do.
To shape our lives around sustainable practices at home, at work, and at play.
To be active, involved patrons of Chattanooga’s arts, local businesses, schools, and outreach programs.
To do one thing every day to fight passivity and embrace the urgency of now.

With all of that said, this is how the rubber meets the road:

We believe in the power of emerging leaders.  In fact, you might call this strategy the tip of our arrow. We invest in emerging leaders through one existing and two emerging programs.

LeadHere is an extremely competitive fellowship program for upcoming and recent college graduates.  Our fellows have literally come from cities across the world, a variety of schools, and extremely diverse sets of experiences.  They are the primary reason that we’ve covered so much ground in an extremely short period of time.  Through the fellowship program, these young leaders obtain end-to-end project management experience that will propel them into the creative workforce.  They also participate in a leadership-training program in order to grow their connectivity to community and civic responsibility.

Plugdin will offer interns from across the city a leadership training experience modeled after LeadHere and the social connectivity that we hope will retain more of these bright young visitors, as well as amp up the regional and national buzz about Chattanooga.

40Below will serve as a call to action for emerging leaders under the age of 40.  With intensive dialogue and platform development on many facets of community-building, 40Below will harness the collective will of upcoming generations to look forward and not only imagine, but act on, a vision of Chattanooga in the year 2040 and beyond.

Now, if you will, allow me to introduce Freddie, the entrepreneur that I previously mentioned.  Freddy was born in a small town.  His father was a metal worker.  When his older brother was killed in an accident, Freddy was forced into the family machine shop.  In this environment, it is safe to say that his spirit was less than content.  One day, while delivering parts from his family’s business to a factory, Freddy caught the attention of the factory owner.  That owner, in an act of selfless leadership, invested time in Freddy by sharing the factory’s technologies and innovation.  This investment in emerging leadership caused Freddy to start to experiment with new technology.  We’ll follow Freddy as we go.

The next layer of our pursuits is feeding the creative spirit.

This is accomplished in part through a progressive work space, an idea factory, if you will.  Located on resurging East Main Street, our offices have no interior walls, no wires, and infinite configurations.  It’s highly collaborative and exponentially more productive than other environments that our team members have worked in.

Citizens are fueled by the thought that they are not alone in their many pursuits and there is no bound to the creativity that comes from unexpected social interactions.  To this end, we help people gather.  From MAINx24 to Writers’ Workshops, we constantly work to create intersections of new people and places.  In fact, you should have found an invitation in your chair to 35-85.  If you don’t know, 35 and 85 are the latitude and longitude coordinates of Chattanooga, and this unprecedented event on the evening of Monday, August 18th is a “do not miss” for all that love our city.

Also, we pride ourselves on putting feet on Main Street and work daily with incredible partners to animate the engaging world just outside of our office walls.

Let’s return to Freddy.  Freddy was not immune to the need for feeding his creative spirit.  He accomplished this by sneaking into classes at a technical school, participating in groundbreaking tradeshows, and winning awards for unequaled mechanical aptitude.

Creative Economies demand creativity density.  Achieving creative density demands very targeted programming. 

ArtsMove Chattanooga is a targeted retention and relocation program offering forgivable moving assistance to creative individuals through a competitive jury process.  This happens in revitalizing neighborhoods in exchange for a long-term commitment to the community and the anticipation of significant economic value-add.  To date, we’ve relocated 25 artists, resulting in over $3.8 million in home sales and multi-fold return on investment for the community.

MakeWork is an arts grant program open to emerging and established artists and artisans within a 50-mile radius of Chattanooga. Earlier this year, Makework infused $150,000 of capital directly into Chattanooga’s creative community. Grants were awarded in three categories: Studio Assistance grants assisted the rental of studio space for one year; Career Advancement grants funded the purchase of tools and alleviated travel costs or fees for workshops; and Project grants enabled artists to pursue ambitious creative projects across Chattanooga and beyond. This year’s 24 MakeWork artists, including cheesemakers, portrait artists, hammered dulcimer players, cutting edge graphic designers, and muralists, are committed to sharing their work with the community and attending a sustainability workshop with SpringBoard our business training curriculum.

CreateHere’s Gallery is a progressive, multi-use space, highlighting the talent of Chattanooga’s artists and artisans. Rotating every six to eight weeks, the curated exhibitions include new media, installation, 2D and 3D works. With each new exhibit, CreateHere hosts a reception that is always free and open to the public, highlighting Chattanooga’s great local music and food.

Back to Freddy… a good many leaders had the foresight to retain and reward his creativity.  From challenging leadership positions in his industry to an honorary doctorate at that same technical school that he used to sneak into, Freddy was told loud and clear… you are needed.

A belief in the creative economy is worthless without defined programs for entrepreneurs at all sizes and stages of growth.

A recent research study of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City found that over a 13-year period, companies employing fewer than 20 employees accounted for 79.5 percent of the net new jobs in the U.S.  Aimed to fuel this growth in our community, SpringBoard is a business resource center for artists, artisans, and creative entrepreneurs targeting sustainability and durability in small business. Committed to the power of creativity in economic development, SpringBoard offers entrepreneurs a variety of resources to achieve their creative and economic goals. An 8-week Business Planning Course enables participants to build a comprehensive business plan, learn valuable skills, and receive constructive feedback and group support.  SpringBoard has trained and graduated 61 entrepreneurs in just six months.  Class topics include personal finance, determining overhead costs and a break-even point, tracking cash flow, and marketing strategies.  Furthermore, Chattanooga’s entrepreneurs are spreading the word; over 75% of participants discovered SpringBoard by word of mouth! 

Peerspectives comes from an innovative body of work being driven by foundations nationally who are also investing heavily in stimulation of free market economies in order to create more prosperity for all citizens of a given region.  This innovative curriculum avoids a significant number of competitive issues presented by older models of industry clustering by pairing entrepreneurs in dissimilar industries, but matched by size and growth pattern, in order to achieve innovation through facilitated dialogue.  The program is already demonstrating tremendous success in a number of other cities.

We believe that growing a healthy creative economy demands that we pay attention to creative entrepreneurs and companies during all the stages of their development.  In addition to SpringBoard’s Business Planning Course, CreateHere plans to expand its programs to include Individual Development Accounts [IDAs], OpportunityKnocks, and a CEO Roundtable.  Through these collective efforts, we are laying out a holistic approach to creative economic development.  This approach to mentorship and business development is aimed at cultivating self-sustainability and independence amongst all of our creative entrepreneurs.

And once again we find Freddy.  Our friend played an integral role in building a creative economy.  Like most entrepreneurs, he started with virtually nothing.  He financed one of his most notable projects by taking a loan against his only life insurance policy.  His efforts would eventually lead to the economic independence of thousands of individuals and families.

Finally, let’s talk about Collective Imagination.  Mayor Ramsey stood at this podium two weeks ago and celebrated one of the biggest wins in this community’s history.  But he did not leave it at that.  He put before us a challenge to use this opportunity as the catalyst for propelling this community forward in uncharted new ways.  I think the questions that Mayor Ramsey started are worth adding to.  How will we go from good to great?  What will we make of this unprecedented opportunity?  What do we dream for Chattanooga?  Think about it.  2040.  Will we continue to be the beautiful convergence of blue and green and endless opportunity that is celebrated worldwide as one of the most amazing turnarounds of modern time? 

I’ve heard it said that the completion of the waterfront paired with the landing of VW is a giant exclamation point at the end of a chapter in our communities history that has lasted thirty years strong.  We would offer to you that it’s time to once again develop a set of core principals for our community, determine the collective imagination of all citizens and then set a bold course for another 30 years of collective action.  Why must we dream?  The reply is simple, how can we not? 

What if Freddy hadn’t dreamed?  You see Freddy’s real nickname was Ferdi.  Ferdinand Porsche was his full name.  Three prototypes were built in his garage that were the foundation of the company we today know as Volkswagen.  Big ideas start in small places.  We celebrate today because of the blood, sweat, and tears of countless leaders.  But we also celebrate because of the spark of the creative spirit that took hold in Ferdinand Porsche and thousands of other entrepreneurs without whom there would be no Chattanooga.

I’ll close with a personal story.  I recently had one of the most transformative experiences of my life.  I had the honor of leading 41 contractors, 50 parent leaders, and over 500 citizens in reclaiming a public school building.  As momentum built for our week long extreme makeover, contractors started staking their corporate signs in front of the old R.H. Hunt designed building at the corner of East Dallas and Mississippi in North Chattanooga that has served our community for over 78 years.  All of those signs were remarkable but one of those signs touched my soul.  The contractor’s logo was very small, and above it in big bold letters, the message simply said “HERE TO HELP”.  We live in a world of great uncertainty, but we can all be “HERE TO HELP”. It’s our shared responsibility to “cut through the knot of poverty and liberate human potential”.  Let us not forget that our neighbor across town drives and walks the same streets that we do.  This is his home too, and he deserves every chance that WE have the ability to throw at him.  Also, let us never forget that people and good ideas come from all backgrounds and in all colors, shapes, ages and sizes. Today, we must quiet our internal monologues, throw out our individual agendas and our well-laid plans, and simply listen.  And then we must start acting.

I started by saying that I am one person standing before you representing many voices.  On behalf of those voices, especially a generation of emerging leaders, I’ve shared with you many ideas that represent that one simple sentiment.  We are “here to help” and we are excited beyond words at the thought of what we’ll create here as we move forward together.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

AEC’s Back Row Film Series Features New Orleans Food and Films

On Friday, August 15, just two weeks before the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Arts & Education Council (AEC) will host a New Orleans-themed evening at Loose Cannon Studios, 1800 Rossville Avenue, at 6 PM.
This is the third event in the 2008 AEC Back Row Film Series.
Participants can sample traditional New Orleans dishes such as jambalaya and red beans and rice, and see two short documentaries by Oxford filmmaker Joe York.
The first film, “Marsaw,” is a portrait of Martin Sawyer, who has been a bartender
in and around the French Quarter of New Orleans for more than sixty years. Among his signature drinks are a rye-brandy Sazerac, a wicked mint julep and his namesake cocktail, the Marsaw.
He witnessed the flood of 1927 and survived Hurricane Katrina.
In 2005, the Southern Foodways Alliance honored him with the Ruth Fertel Keeper of the Flame Award, given to a man or woman deemed an unsung culinary hero or heroine.
The second film is “Above the Line: Saving Willie Mae’s Scotch House,“the story of acclaimed New Orleans restaurant owner Willie Mae Seaton and her drive to rebuild her landmark restaurant following the devastating floodwaters of Katrina.
Volunteers stepped in to help the 89-year-old rebuild her restaurant and start serving her famous fried chicken again.
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant, whose owners relocated to Chattanooga after Katrina, will introduce the audience to authentic Creole food with flavorful dishes that represent New Orleans’ celebrated history.
The Back Row Film Series gives an interactive approach to film viewing, enhancing the viewer’s experience by offering related activities such as guest speakers, food, music and demonstrations.
The program is part of AEC’s mission to provide unique opportunities for lifelong learning and participation in the arts for all members of the community.
Tickets are $15 for AEC members and $20 for general admission. Food, film and drinks are included.
Seating is limited. Call 423-267-1218 or visit BackRowFilms.com to purchase tickets.

Writers’ Workshop: “I was inspired.”

CreateHere’s July 31st Writers’ Workshop, presented by local writer Janis Hashe, explored a few key themes in the field of writing, and appealed to more than a few local artists, writers, and business people. The lecture was aimed at anyone interested in self-promotion, but delved into print journalism in great detail.

“In the event that I find myself ready to break into the world of print, I will have the advantage afforded by [this] presentation,” said Carolyn Sierdzki.

The two-hour lecture and workshop initially focused on writing press releases and the delicate art of self-promotion. In materials distributed during the workshop, Ms. Hashe discussed the importance of meeting deadlines and following up with editors of interested publications. She explained the different types of press releases artists can use to promote themselves appropriately. Her advice on creating releases, based on years of professional experience, was so detailed as to include information on formatting photographs and the importance of “simple but punchy” language.

“[Ms. Hashe] imparted a ton of useful information, in a very digestible manner,” said Sue Lowery, a designer in attendance.

In the session’s second half, Ms. Hashe discussed freelance queries and shared examples from her own career. Ms. Hashe still freelances in many of Chattanooga’s publications, and worked for the Los Angeles Times before moving here.  Sierdzki appreciated that Ms. Hashe “did not attempt to tell us [her] life story or to be a comedienne. [Her] use of anecdotes was helpful, not distracting.”

“I felt the instructor was wonderful and I was inspired,” added Darin Wright.

Missed out?  No worries; CreateHere plans to host another workshop for writers in the future!  If you’d like to be notified about CreateHere’s programs and upcoming events, shoot us an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

35° 85°

It’s about more than latitude and longitude.  It’s your town.  It’s our town.  Be there.

HERE & NOW August 18, 2008 @ 7 PM
              Loose Cannon Gallery, 1800 Rossville Ave
EAT food by Lee Towery catering, Sequatchie Cove Farm, Black Tie Affair
DRINK  courtesy of CreateHere
LOOK  art by J3R2
ROCK Shaking ray Levi Society presents:
Colonel Bruce Hampton & Roger Alan Wade
SPIN mixed sounds by Red Tail
CHILL on Smart Furniture

Monday, August 04, 2008

The Arts Mean Business

...communities that invest in the arts reap the additional benefits of jobs, economic growth, and a quality of life that positions those communities to compete in our 21st century creative economy. 

Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2B in economic activity annually- a 24 percent increase in the past five years.  That amount is greater than the Gross Domestic Product of most countries.  This spending supports 5.7 million full-time jobs right here in the United States - an increase of 850,000 jobs since a 2002 study.  What’s more, because arts and culture organization are strongly rooted in their communities, these are jobs that necessarily remain local and cannot be shipped overseas.

Our industry also generates nearly $30B in revenue to local, state, and federal governments every year.  By comparison, the three levels of government collectively spend less that $4B annually to support the arts and culture - a spectacular 7:1 return on investment that would even thrill Wall Street veterans.

Arts and culture organizations - businesses in their own right - leverage additional event-related spending by their audiences that pump vital revenue into restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and other local businesses.  When patrons attend a performing arts event, for example, they may park their car in a toll garage, purchase dinner at a restaurant, and eat dessert after the show.  Valuable commerce is generated for local merchants.  This study shows that the typical attendee spends $27.79 per person, per event, in additional to the cost of admission.  When a community attracts cultural tourists, it harnesses even greater economic rewards.  Nonlocal audiences spend twice as much as their local counterparts ($40.19 vs. $19.53).  Arts and culture are magnets for tourists, and tourism research repeatedly shows that cultural travelers stay longer and spend more.  Whether serving the local community or out-of-town visitors, a vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive. 

Right now, cities around the world are competing to attract new businesses as well as our brightest young professionals.  International studies show that the winners will be communities that offer an abundance of arts and culture opportunities.  As the arts flourish, so will creativity and innovation-the fuel that drives our global economy. 

(Source: Americans for the Arts, 2007)