Last week, we at IBJ gathered a panel of local arts professionals to discuss funding issues. A story about that insightful
talk will appear in the upcoming print IBJ while a video will appear on line. I'll give you more information when it is posted.
Here's a sneak peek, from IBJ reporter Kathleen McLaughlin:
...The level of competition within the local arts scene quickly became apparent during the discussion. Jim Walker, who manages a youth-writing project called The Second Story and is a founding board member of Big Car Gallery in Fountain Square, complained that a few well-established organizations garner half the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ annual grant distributions, leaving grass-roots groups to compete for the rest.
”
Here's a sneak peek, from IBJ reporter Kathleen McLaughlin:
...The level of competition within the local arts scene quickly became apparent during the discussion. Jim Walker, who manages a youth-writing project called The Second Story and is a founding board member of Big Car Gallery in Fountain Square, complained that a few well-established organizations garner half the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ annual grant distributions, leaving grass-roots groups to compete for the rest.
”
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One last thought...these small and mid size groups are the ones that really give this city life and personality. They are the ones that create buzz and generate new audiences. When they close there doors (and it's only a matter of when) Indy loses in a lot of ways.
As a major professional theatre organization in the Central Indiana area, one of the main reasons my colleagues and I chose Indiana over several other locations we were considering, was due to this great state's amazing potential for growth in the arts. I was told that if the State is successful in cutting the funding to the Arts, a grant that we were awarded in the Fall by the Arts Council of Indianapolis may be reduced or even eliminated!
Mayor Ballard has already cut city funding making things extremely difficult for arts organizations.
According to the Arts Council of Indianapolis the Arts in Indianapolis generate $468 million nearly half a billion dollars to the city's economy each year! $52 million of that activity is realized in state and county tax revenue. The arts support over 15,000 jobs, and make a good public investment for every $1 of local government support the arts generate $5 in return to the city's economy.
According to reports from Harvard University, the Urban Institute, RAND Corporation and others, the arts lead community development in Indianapolis in other significant ways including improving public safety and reducing crime. Through community wide outreach programs, and low and no cost performances, exhibits and instructional courses provided in venues around the city, nonprofit arts programs in Marion County serve millions of children, students and senior citizens each year.
Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations spend $181,936,937 annually on wages, supplies, vendors and asset acquisitions within the community.
Nonprofit arts and cultural organization audiences spend $286,903,247 annually on parking, dinner, hotel rooms even childcare.
Nonprofit arts organizations are proud members of the business community—employing people locally, purchasing goods and services within the community, and involved in the marketing and promotion of their cities. In fact, there are more full time jobs supported by the nonprofit arts than are in accounting, public safety officers, even lawyers and just slightly fewer than elementary school teachers.
According to Americans for the Arts, a $50 million investment to the National Endowment for the Arts will provide critical funding to save 14,422 jobs from being lost in the U.S. economy. This is based on the ability of the NEA to leverage $7 in additional support through local, state and private donations, for every $1 in NEA support.
There are approximately 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations, which spend $63.1 billion annually. Without an economic stimulus for the nonprofit arts industry, experts expect about 10% of these organizations (ranging from large arts institutions like museums and orchestras to small community based organizations in suburban, urban and rural areas) to shut their doors in 2009 a loss of 260,000 jobs.
In a report released in mid January, the National Governor's Association stated, Arts and culture are important to state economies. Arts and culture related industries, also known as creative industries, provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases.
Then NEA Chairman Dana Gioia issued the following statement prior to his departure, Arts organizations have been hit enormously hard by the current recession. They've seen their support drop from corporations, foundations, and municipalities. This infusion of funds will help sustain them, their staffs, and the artists they employ. We are hopeful that Congress and the new administration will support this important investment.
These facts need to be communicated so that the general public is aware that support for the Arts is not and should not be considered pork in any public funding. Arts and cultural organizations are known for being able to make a dollar go a great long way! Please ask your legislators to reconsider their decision.
Sincerely,
Don Farrell
Producing Artistic Director/Founder
Actors Theatre of Indiana
www.actorstheatreofindiana.org
317-669-7983
The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities. They enhance community development; spur urban renewal; attract new businesses; draw tourism dollars; and create an environment that attracts skilled, educated workers and builds a robust 21st century workforce.
As a major professional theatre organization in Central Indiana, one of the main reasons my colleagues and I chose Indiana over several other locations we were considering, was due to this great state's amazing potential for growth in the arts. I was told that if the State is successful in cutting the funding to the Arts, a grant that we were awarded in the Fall by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and should receive the end of February, may be reduced or even eliminated!
Mayor Ballard has already cut city funding making things extremely difficult for arts organizations.
According to the Arts Council of Indianapolis the Arts in Indianapolis generate $468 million nearly half a billion dollars to the city's economy each year! $52 million of that activity is realized in state and county tax revenue. The arts support over 15,000 jobs, and make a good public investment for every $1 of local government support the arts generate $5 in return to the city's economy.
These facts need to be communicated so that the general public is aware that support for the Arts is not and should not be considered pork in any public funding. Arts and cultural organizations are known for being able to make a dollar go a great long way! Please ask your legislators to reconsider their decision.
including those that already have sizeable endowments. So it’s not surprising
that some of the smaller orgs are crying foul. But every organization,
regardless of size or influence, is feeling the squeeze. And every organization
adds something unique and vital to the city’s cultural landscape. Instead of
in-fighting, this season of financial discontent should stir organizations
to collaborate with each other and their patrons (of all ages) in unexpected ways.