Transcript Charlotte at a Crossroads

The importance of Arts to North
Carolina’s economic prosperity
Meeting Goal
Discuss the impact of the Arts &
Culture industry in North Carolina and
request your support for key funding
and policy recommendations.
Meeting Agenda
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Who we are
Why the Arts in NC matter
What’s needed to continue its impact
How you can help
Questions
Why Arts matter
• Recent study by Gallup & Knight Foundation
showed that #1 reason people are attracted to
their communities is the availability of social
offerings, like the Arts, Parks and Libraries
“I can say with certainty that accessibility to a
myriad of cultural and historical opportunities is a
huge selling point in recruiting economic
development opportunities.”
Jill Swain, Mayor
Huntersville
Why Arts matter
Arts = Quality of Life
– Teaches creativity and innovation in our youth
– Spurs redevelopment in rural communities
– Celebrates North Carolina’s cultural traditions
“Support for the arts is essential to the vitality of
the arts that draw people to rural communities to
support small businesses like ours.”
Sandy Jobe & Robin Ellis, Owners
Foxfire Downtown Restaurant, Spruce Pine, NC
Arts mean business
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How you can help
Funding
• Vote to keep NC Arts Council funding at current
funding level ($5.7 million)
• Invest $500,000 in SmART initiative
Policy
• Revenue neutral commitment for non-profits in tax
reform
• Sustain viability of license plates
• Enact one requirement in arts education for
students 8 – 12 (H127 - S68)
North Carolina Arts Council
• An agency of Department of Cultural Affairs, the
nation's first cabinet level state agency for the
arts, history, and libraries.
• Statewide grants to non-profit arts and cultural
organizations reach every county in NC
SmART Initiative
• Arts as catalyst for economic development
• Pilot invest of $150,000 showed great results
• $50,000 grant in Wilson netted $3 million
additional private investment over 3 years
“We have proven that we have to hold
hands as neither government nor the
private side can do it alone.”
Pat Riley, President & CEO
Allen Tate Company, Charlotte
We are here to help
Karen Wells, Executive Director
(919) 834-1411
[email protected]
Wayne Martin, Executive Director
(919) 807-6525
[email protected]