Open Space and a Grass Roots effort for the Arts

[Heidi Nobantu Saul]

This past weekend I was in NYC facilitating a day of Open Space for Dance/USA (the national organization that supports dance in the US www.danceusa.org ) at their annual Winter Forum.  They took a chance using OS for a full day of their programming at this annual event (this was their first time using OS and there was resistance - it was considered risky.) And as those of us OS-nicks would imagine it proved to be effective and timely especially given the state of our economy and its affects not only on Dance but on the Arts in general.  One group had a very lively discussion surrounding the perception of ‘the Arts as Pork Spending’ and out of this came some immediate spontaneous action – which is what I am sharing.

Below is the email that one of the participants in the conversation sent out yesterday as a grass roots effort to share the information generated in the session. If any of you in the US want to get involved it is easy - the links are active in the attached PDF document that outlines the 10 points the group put together and ways to act.  Dance/USA was pleased with the response to using Open Space and the results that came forth. 

Cheers,
Heidi 

Dear Dance/USA colleagues,

This past weekend’s Winter Council was a rich dialogue on the current state of affairs in the economy and the arts community.  One of our discussions centered on arts advocacy.   In particular, countering the negative and false information currently circulating about the NEA portion of the economic stimulus package.  This group, working with Dance/USA staffer Amy Fitterer, collectively created the “top ten list” you see below (and attached) as a way to counter this misinformation.  It is based on solid research data and is meant to directly counter the “arts spending is pork” myth.  As you all well know, the arts are good for the economy and we have the facts on our side.

We intend to spread this document far and wide – via Email, Facebook and other social networking sites, and invite you to do the same. 

The NEA funding is under attack and we need to act and act now -- not just for this stimulus package, but to put these false arguments to rest once and for all.

Warm Regards,

The arts are part of the solution!  Support arts funding in our stimulus package, here’s why!

The arts are a powerful economic engine and play a vital role in our communities, enhancing each of our lives.

Get the facts, not the spin!  Let’s keep and increase arts funding in the stimulus package!

Here are ten reasons why the arts should matter to you.

1.Increased funding in the arts invests in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, is the cornerstone of tourism and economic development, and drives a creativity-based economy.

2.Nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences generate $166.2 billion in economic activity every year.

3.Nonprofit arts organizations return nearly $30 billion in government revenue every year.

4.Nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences support 5.7 million jobs.

5.Investment in non-profit arts generates a spectacular 7:1 return on investment. That is, $1 invested in the arts generated $7 in the community.  $50 million to the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) would generate $350 million in economic activity.

6.The arts are shovel-ready – each dollar of arts funding goes to work immediately creating jobs, attracting investment, generating tax revenue, and stimulating local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. 

7.Artists constitute a sizeable class of workers -- only slightly smaller than the total number of active-duty and reserve personnel in the U.S. military. 

8.The performing arts draw more attendance than sports. 70% of Americans attend at least one performing arts event per year versus 53% that attend one sports event.

9.Children who receive an arts education on a regular basis are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and less likely to engage in delinquent behavior.

10.A strong arts and culture sector and a creative workforce attract and keep businesses in the community - it is one of the top ten attributes corporations look for in a new business site.

The arts are not “pork spending” -- even if you are not an arts patron, the money spent on non-profit arts funding benefits you.  
The money allocated for the National Endowment for the Arts represents less than 1% of the proposed economic stimulus package. 
The arts are part of the solution!

Take action now!  Write your congressmen in under 5 minutes!  Click here:

http://theperformingartsalliance.org/campaign/AmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentBill 

More Talking Points on the Power of the Arts  

Research comes from Americans for the Arts, the National Governors Association, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Performing Arts Research Coalition



h e i d i  n o b a n t u  s a u l
Consultant  Facilitator  Coach

Santa Fe, NM & San Francisco, CA
Mobile: 505.470.5131
Skype: heidi.nobantu.saul
EMail: heidi at nobantu.com
 Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.



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