Arts and Culture is the Core of Community Vibrancy

Many folks question the need to support the arts - particularly on a community level. Schools across Canada are having their arts funding cut, and it seems there are as many people fighting for the arts as there are people fighting against it.

It has been proven that arts-education facilitates better learning in all other educational disciplines. So, my point is to highlight the value that the arts provides to a community in a way that is meaningful to folks who have the money to keep the arts alive and thriving - anyone who may be potential "consumers". Patronizing local arts and artists is not just good for the intelligence of a community - it is also fundamental to its economy.

The primary goal of anyone who works in the arts is to continue to make a living. It's as simple as that - most artists - painters, musicians, dancers, sculptors, actors or writers - are entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals who make a living exercising their skills and abilities. And yet, artists rarely get the same level of respect (or pay) that a dentist or a lawyer does. Artists usually have an equal depth of education, training and commitment to their profession, and yet they rarely earn a consistent, sustainable living wage.

Achieving a balance between artistic mission and economic need, and creating a sustainable economy for artistic work is essential for community artists and arts organizations to be sustainable and healthy in the long-term. This is generally difficult for cultural entrepreneurs to do, but it is critical to the health of a community. Why? Because it is measurably valuable to have a thriving arts and culture community in any town or city. Why? Because a community that cherishes and presents is own community-defining stories of heritage and humanity is one that carves its own clear, compelling identity. Where would you rather live?  In a community that has a vibrant identity, or a faceless collection of factories and houses? Would you rather live with mature trees, parks, and skilled informed merchants and service providers under the umbrella of a defined, supportive "community" - or within a commodified community of strip-malls and tract housing?

A thriving cultural community attracts people. Cultural success leads to enriched lifestyles, which contributes directly to economic success in any community. A community that has a lot of "happenings" (not just in the arts, but in sport, volunteerism or any other social endeavor) will attract people - people who will live, work, spend, pay taxes, and contribute. Arts and culture has a place in community economic development that is fundamental to a strong, sustainable local economy.

All economic development starts with people who are thriving, happy and investing in their community. Creative innovation is essential to developing a culture of innovation in the broader community, and that starts with the arts. That means that, regardless of your love of the arts, it is essential to understand that a thriving arts community is a foundation of a strong, vibrant community.

Don't you think that it may be a good idea to invest in something that increases the quality and value of the region you call home?