Doylestown - Group Three

The Big Canvas - July 9, 2008

The group consisted mostly of individuals who are from Bucks County whose profession is linked to arts and culture or exhibit “a love of the arts,” particularly the region’s arts and culture. -- Moderators Franne McNeal and David Sokoloff

For what do people use arts and culture?

• Many participants cited Enrichment

• “Helps me feel alive” and they had a personal stake, it’s part of their soul

• Support/encourage creative people

• Widens view of life and gives others a wider understanding

• Broadens life; expands and nurtures life

• Cultural expansion, makes society more civilized

• Gives inspiration

• Creates personal and community identity

• Provides an escape

• Helps to experience life differently

• Express feelings

• Many participants like the notion that art can educate through the visual,tactile and audio

• A staple/foundation for everything else; FUN! & HOPE

• Should not equal entertainment (this is for the public good)

Present independent of society (again the notion that it is for the public good)

• Community centered/based

Who are the users?

• All age groups

• All genders

• Creative people

• Defined by region (tension: city vs. region)

• Tourists vs. locals

• At home and in schools (it’s good to start early)

• Children engaged though experience in arts and culture

• Locals can be tourist (ex: when relatives visit a local also becomes a tourist).

What values do you think arts and culture bring to individuals, families, communities? What basic values do they support?

• Diversity

• Relevance

• Links past to the present (popular sentiment)

• Stewardship

• Citizenship

• Responsibility (does not just pertain to the government)

• Helps overcome conflicts

• Represents the hearts and minds

• People who need it the most do not get it

• Connection

• Connect individual to work and museum

• Shared experience with others

• Connects with world and its growth

• Cultural identity: Harder because more fragmented. Passes cultural interests down through generations.

• Just as important as Police and Schools

• Teaching tool

• Engages people

• Increases quality of life: It is an essential part of everyone and a civilized society.

• Want to make arts even more relevant, increase the value in homes

• Expand or widen view and experience

• Sense of pride in good arts and culture; proud of arts!

In our region, what are the barriers to these uses and values?

• People are attracted to the lowest common denominator (competition).

• Media and consumerism

Cost is too high (very popular sentiment in group).

• Perception that arts and culture is too highbrow or elitist.

• Perception that arts and culture is too stretched.

• Competition: Nascar vs. arts experience; spare time is taken up by non-arts; dumbing down of culture

• Families are more active. There are too many things competing at once for people’s time.

• Limited pool of consumers

• More 501C3’s competing for the same thing

• TIME

• Dumb down of culture as a general barrier

• Pressure to “get” art

• Government: Who controls the money?

• Public education is less focused on arts thanks to No Child Left Behind.

• Security risk: 911

You're part of a committee that's going to decide how $60 million gets spent. What's on your list?

• Endowment would be set up and some sort of plan would get created for who got what percentage of the money.

• Free access for children and youth.

• Free access for those who don’t regularly have access; This plan would not apply to central Bucks County Schools.

• Create jobs for student artists and assist disenfranchised audiences and build community pride.
This would be modeled similarly to the Mural Arts Project program.

• Libraries: longer hours and more cultural programs

• Co-ops (modeled on business community): This would bring more events and arts to businesses. Some examples are the Summer Solstice – multi-disciplinary arts with low admission fees. Think about the Brooklyn Museum with this plan.

• Education: Help foster more appreciation of arts and culture, especially for children.

• Have a “czar” that would advocate, communicate and unify all the arts.

• Money would go towards all the general infrastructure of arts and arts organizations. This would essentially bolster the operating costs.

• Professional development for artists

• A one to one match of funds

• Re-granting and programming

There's only $20 million to spend. How do you prioritize your list from the previous question?

Each person
got two votes. The winners were:

• Education – help foster more appreciation of arts and culture, especially for children.

• Have a “Czar” that would advocate, communicate and unify all the arts.

• Free access for children and youth.

What are other major regional concerns or issues? Which of these have a higher or lower priority than
arts and culture?

• Health care (higher than arts and culture): Need to be well to create/appreciate beauty.

• Education (higher): Increases the opportunity for next generation artists and just makes the next generation better.

• Price of gas

• Public safety

• Jobs (higher): Increase in jobs will provide resources for people to partake in arts and culture.

• Housing: Relates to arts and culture because arts=luxuries

• Infrastructure: Old age roads – aged commuting

• Costs of living – higher

• Put more money into prisons

• Allocation of tax money – higher

For what other issues could arts and culture be part of the solution?

• Education

• Health care: Use arts
program to feel better

• Jobs

• Beautify community

• Public safety: Get kids off
street

• Build self-esteem

• Spotlight arts betters the region

• Reduce cost of living