WE ARE AN ARTISTIC COMMUNITY! According to the Creative Industries report published by Americans for the Arts: Tuscarawas County, OH is home to 154 arts-related businesses that employ 494 people. According to their Dun & Bradstreet numbers, the creative industries account for 2.9 percent of the total number of businesses located in Tuscarawas County, OH and 1.3 percent of the people they employ. (http://aftadc.brinkster.net/Ohio/county/OH_Tuscarawas.pdf) WHAT IS A CREATIVE BUSINESS? The creative industries are composed of arts businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to forprofit film, architecture, and design companies, and others. (http://aftadc.brinkster.net/Ohio/county/OH_Tuscarawas.pdf) WHY ARE THESE BUSINESSES IMPORTANT TO OUR AREA? THEY’RE CREATING JOBS, EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. THEY INCLUDE ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS, FOR PROFIT BUSINESSES, AND ARTS SCHOOLS AMONG OTHERS (At least 141 more!) WHAT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS? They are generally not represented as they don’t have a Dun & Bradstreet number. VERY OFTEN EXCELLENT AT CREATING ART Perhaps not known for their marketing and/or business skills May or may not be known locally WE HAVE LOCAL ARTISTS HERE WITH US TODAY They practice a diversity of arts across a variety mediums: Visual – painting, drawing, sculpting Graphic – design, layout, printing Performing – acting, designing, directing Music – composing, playing, singing And many more TUSCARAWAS COUNTY HAS MANY SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS AND CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS Pat Potter has collected some of those success stories WHO ADVOCATES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST? Each individual expends her/his own effort Often without any support This is often the case at many arts and culture organizations that don’t have a support “staff of thousands.” So what can be done? LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES OR, HOW CAN WE ALL WIN? WHAT IS A LOCAL ARTS AGENCY? A local arts agency (LAA) is a nonprofit organization or a local government agency that presents programming to the public, provides services to artists and arts organizations, manages cultural facilities, awards grants, and/or participates in community cultural planning. (Americans for the Arts) ARTS AGENCIES ARE EVERYWHERE According to the Americans for the Arts website there are more than 5,000 Local Arts Agencies nationwide THEY ARE LISTED IN MANY WAYS COMMUNITY DEFINED In each case they are created to be a Local Arts Agency that suits the community WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS IN TUSCARAWAS COUNTY? • Arts Identity? • Unified Marketing? • Renewable Funding Streams? • Employment Opportunities? • Individual recognition? • Creative Collaboration? • Grant Seeking? LET’S TALK … Why are we here today? FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A LOCAL ARTS AGENCY We are requesting the County Commissioners “Commission” a group of 12 - 21 volunteers to determine the feasibility of a Local Arts Agency in Tuscarawas County: Artists •Individual artists •Educators •Independent specialists •Arts organization. executive •Cultural organization executive Business Executives •Small Business owner •Legal professional •Finance professional •Nonprofit Executive •Community Improvement/developm ent executive Movers & Shakers •Government employee •Marketing professional • Tourism organization professional •At large member(s) LOA GROUP DOES 3 THINGS FOR OUR COUNTY RESEARCH OTHER ARTS AGENCIES Examine Local Arts Agencies in other places: • Structure • Funding model • Operation • Economic impact Tuscarawas County Cultural inventory Create a list of: A N A LYS I S T H E BENEFITS OF A LOA Based on research of Arts Agencies and cultural Inventory: • Examine viability of a LAO in Tuscarawas County •Individual artists • •Art schools Suggest possible structures if viable • Suggest possible funding streams if viable •Arts and culture organizations TIMELINE FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY • 7/15 - 8/15: Collect possible names for LOA group. • 8/15 – 9/15: Invitation to join LOA group extended by commissioners, answers by 9/15. • 10/1 – 3/31 LOA group meets to perform research and analysis. Presents findings. • 4/1 LOA group disbands with many thanks! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION Thank you to everyone here today