“Connecting the Dots: the Arts and Economic Impact” was a NYS ARTS rural workshop cosponsored with Cattaraugus County Arts Council and hosted by Olean Public Library on June 18, 2009.
The workshop was planned as an interactive panel discussion; panel presenters included: Celeste Lawson, Executive Director, Arts Council in Buffalo and Erie County; Andy Glanzman, President & CEO, Northern Lights Candles and founder of the Wellsville Creative Arts Center; John (Jack) Hart, attorney with Wagner & Hart LLP; Anne Conroy-Baiter, Executive Director, Cattaraugus Council Arts Council, and Kimberly LaMendola Driscoll, Programs & Grants Manager, Cattaraugus County Arts Council.
The workshop was also planned as a follow up discussion to NYSCA’s Cultural Blueprint meeting last year in Western New York. It centered on the positive economic impact that arts sector activities generate; the catalytic role of the arts in community development, and contributions toward creating vibrant communities with stimulating quality-of-life assets. Some presenters spoke on how their organizations are integrating the arts with economic development strategies; others spoke of opportunities to cultivate new sources of revenue for arts and cultural organizations.
Andy Glanzman and his wife Tina own and operate an international business. He also created a for-profit arts center in the heart of downtown Wellsville. The art center started with Andy’s desire to rescue two old buildings slated for destruction. In explaining the process of how he converted these buildings into a lively incorporated community arts and education center, Andy indicated it was often a “What Next?” approach. But some things clearly supported his efforts; his committment to his town, a background in music and love of art; strong business skills and his role as a business leader in Wellsville and the county. Wellsville Creative Arts Center is now a town hub; has just opened a restaurant (it offers cooking classes as well as arts instruction), and employs 20 people in its various programs. Feedback and observation indicate that people are now moving to Wellsville because of the art center and local officials bring visiting dignitaries to show it off; it has helped identify Wellsville as a location that supports creative endeavors.
Celeste Lawson spoke both as the executive director of the arts council serving Buffalo and Erie County, and as the western New York Regional Captain for NYSCA’s Cultural Blue Print project. Her economic impact handouts included a listing of “National Treasures,”, the 2008 competition for the 25 top art destinations by American Style Magazine. In the category of American mid-sized cities, Buffalo ranked #1 in a list of 25 and in the same category, Rochester lists at #14; for small cities and towns, Corning holds the #4 spot. Another handout explores “The Economic Impact of the Nonprofit Arts and Culture Industry in Greater Buffalo”, a study conducted with Americans for the Arts (AFTA). It provides evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture are a significant industry in Greater Buffalo - one that generates over $155 million in local economic activity and supports 4,740 full-time equivalent jobs, generates $95.9 million in household income to local residents, and delivers $24.05 million in local and state government revenue. Another AFTA handout shows that on a national level the arts sustain 5.7 million jobs; that 4.3 % of all American businesses are arts-centric; that the arts bring in almost $30 billion in tax revenues and have an overall total economic impact of $166.2 billion.
Celeste suggested we need to consistently advocate for the arts by learning and using the language of business and economic development; we are a strong industry but often are ignored when economic development decisions are made on various levels of government. We need to be at the economic development decision-making tables with these facts: “in this region, x number of people are employed in the arts and pay taxes; our buying power is x; arts activity generate x number of dollars for other businesses in the community, etc.”
There are many facts and allies that can help in making your case, and you should learn to use these on all levels. For example, Congresswoman Lois Slaughter is a top advocate for arts funding on Capitol Hill; she knows her district (including Buffalo) is heavily dependent on the arts industry. Another clear identity/brand: New York State is recognized nationally as #1 in the arts & culture industry.
She also shared her experience as a panelist for Cayuhoga County, Ohio, which has a dedicated fund for the arts for the Cleveland region. This experience was an enlightment; for those in the arts, we are so focused on transparancy, accountability, model management and at the same time trying to squeeze the most quality out of limited financial resources, that we fail to take into account this reality: economic development leaders, business leaders and venture capitalists are willing to invest in projects that hold risk, as long as the potential gains are worthwhile. Celeste urged all to start the language in your community for dedicated funding for the arts and reach out to all community resources as new potential partners with discussions focused on how we can work together.
Kim and Anne have been working for years on developing Cattaraugus County Arts Council (CCCA) as a leader and resource to help individual artists develop professionally as stand -alone businesses. Through the Arts & Business Council, CCCA received a grant to develop an artist studio tour, called “Routes to Art.” By its third year, “Routes” had caught the attention of the country tourism office - the week - long project had brought in thousands of visitors and added .5 million dollars to the rural county’s economy. Through their hard work in reaching out, finding a common language and advocating that “arts mean business” Cattaraugus County is now very aware of the power and impact of cultural tourism and the arts as an industry. “Routes” has led to other developing and potential collaborations; the Seneca Nation and the city of Salamanca wants CCCA to work with them to develop an identity associated with arts & culture. The county has asked CCCA to develop a county-wide cultural strategic plan; CCCA plans to develop this on a contractual basis with the county and has reached out to area universities to help develop it.
Jack Hart is a working partner in the firm of Warner & Hart, LLC, and is also the attorney for the city of Olean. In his firm’s business, most of his work is on cooperative agreements between for-profit entities, but he is carving out a role of handling such agreements between a for-profit entity or government agency and nonprofits organizations - and he loves the arts! Non-profits can bring specific and desirable skills to a project; through “teaming” and legal cooperative agreements, two or more entities can bid on a contract project together. Jack will be working with CCCA and the universities as they develop the contract with the county for the cultural assessment strategic plan.
In the open discussion, the federal percent for art program came up. Buffalo has this program - 1% in any new construction is dedicated to the arts. The program is a national model and has laws supporting it; however, enforcement of these laws is the problem, as elected officials are the actual enforcers.
Question: can we successfully collaborate without legal help? It can be done, but when working with government agencies and large entities (including universities, hospitals, and businesses,) it’s highly advised. They expect this; it’s part of their language of doing business .
Further discussion followed on using effective language in making the case for the arts. These included:
• when you talk about your work and the arts, learn to address the issues that interest your potential partners, including the economic affect of the arts on your community or county. The message should be clear; the Arts mean Business.
• As artists and arts administrators, speak of your role as part of the “creative industry” and share how the arts enhance and add value to your community, and provide desirable “quality of life” components.
• We need to become comfortable with the word “profit” as a good word. A nonprofit can work toward making a profit, but its profits go back into the organization rather than to shareholders or an individual owner. Understanding this allows us to move our organzations forward.
