Moore College in Philadelphia - Group Four

The Big Canvas - July 30, 2008

A large group of arts and culture experts and/or enthusiasts showed up for our dialogue process at Moore College of Art and Design. The large group numbering in the 100s was broken into several smaller groups. This is a report from one of the small groups. 

This group, about eight members strong, was composed of individuals mostly from Philadelphia, though there were at least two individuals from outside of Philadelphia (Havertown and South Jersey). The group was made up of women, one of which was Latina who worked with Latino communities in North Philly and one of which was a young African American women from the Logan neighborhood. The rest of the women were white. All of the women worked in some shape or form in the arts community, or were artists.  Listing of member motivations for participating:

• Several used the term “professional interest.”
• Works for Arts program in a school.
• Works with an arts/youth group in Logan.
• Works with Philly Fringe and performs.
• Artist from Northern Liberties.
• Works for a cultural center in a community.
• Wants to make sure latino voices were represented.  Works in North Philly.
• Painter who loves Philadelphia.

Moderators: Ted Enoch and Carol Lydon

For what do people use arts and culture?

Arts therapy and rehabilitation; leisure time uses; public events like in Clark Park in West Philly when bands play; communities use art to come together and build community, for example, Lancaster Avenue residents; hobbies; for employment; for entertainment; for learning tools; and for healing.

Who are the users?

Children on school trips and with families.  They make art in and after school; residents and tourists; church goers – in the culture of church, music and dance …; artists, students; senior citizens; someone who sings in private; residents through public art like that created through our Mural Arts Program, homeowners; everyone uses public art; visiting galleries and dancing halls; all ethnic groups, all ages; the city; homeless people when they sing or make music (sometimes for money); and institutions and prisons have arts programs.

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

• “Expands the brain and soul.”
• Creates "respect for the city.”
• The experience of seeing allows one to value it.
• Builds a sense of community, history and togetherness.
• Sense of possibility, sense of hope.
• Creates income, a real economic impact in many ways.
• Creates beauty.
• Adds to our quality of life.
• Creates jobs.
• It allows us to communicate ideas.
• In entertainment, we experience feelings.
• Attracts folks form different backgrounds, breaks down barriers.
• Offers feeing of price, even civic pride.
• Opportunities to bond with our families.
• Adds to public safety.
• Cultural and artistic opportunities in city are an escape for suburban folks.
• Economic impact, helps property gain value in a community.
• “Halo effect” like how “Northern Liberties exploded”, where artists go, businesses follow, and properties become valued (and often overvalued).
• Artists take risk, are pioneers.
• Connects us with world, what is at arms reach and beyond.
• A rich cultural life is a magnet.
• It's very important for education.
• Allows for engagement.
• Increases advanced thinking, complex though and abstraction.
• Arts create a sense of freedom.
• It encourages us, gives us permission to do and try things.
• Allows those on the margins – special needs, emotional needs – to shine.
• Outsiders can find a path (and not be alienated).
• “Inter-organizational cooperation.”
• Entertainment and relaxation.
• To share and experience beauty.
• To develop skills.
• Opens new channels and new experiences.
• Seniors feel useful, experience things in making art, experience “tactile” world.
• Allows us to present challenging ideas in accessible ways.
• Vehicle for social activism, a call to action.
• Self-validation, in experiencing other voices we feel and hear our own.
• Motivation: youth group created a mural, saw that we could do it.
• First Fridays create opportunities for social and communal experiences.
• Connection to a spiritual life.

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

• Mixed communities can create conflict. When multiple ethnic perspectives need to represented in a mural, it can be challenging.
• Money: lack of parking, prices of parking, ticket prices…
• Wage tax of the city.
• Accessibility (unlike Pittsburgh, which is much farther ahead…) for those with physical disabilities.
• Limited public funds.
• Fear/perception: avoid neighborhoods, avoid Latino neighborhoods, fear of art.
• For artists, fear of retribution or censoring.
• People intimidated by art or some kinds of art and feel its not for them.
• People are  afraid they will have to buy or spend if they attend.
• Lack of awareness, lack of marketing, lack of encouragement, insularity.
• Gender roles and expectations.  (Men are often discouraged.)
• Stereotypes.
• In United States, arts is a commodity for the privileged, unlike other countries and cultures.
• Lack of art in schools. (The group really exclaimed this one.)
• No Child Left Behind results in an emphasis (due to testing) on subjects besides art.
• Physical/accessibility issues.
• Lack of  alternative press and marketing opportunites.
• “Dumbing down of culture” w/ crap programming makes us all lazy.
• Transportation issues, Septa issues.
• Lack of planning in schools and communities.
• Violence in the city and neighborhood discourages us.
• Prejudice discourages and divides us.
• Fear of parking tickets, lack of parking.

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

• Advertising: The city should market a wide variety of events/activities/venues throughout the region. The major papers market the large events; the only way to learn about smaller events/venues/activities is either through the free weeklies or word of mouth. The city should also gear their marketing to the value of art – what it brings to the community, why it’s important. This marketing effort could be similar to the current marketing of the city’s recycling program. This marketing should be independent and not tied to one style, form or group of art or artists.  It should be open and inclusive and should cover the entire region, not just the city. 

• Outreach to schools: Art and music classes should be resumed in all public schools. Interest in arts/music should be encouraged and should be available to all students in order to educate them early about it and to spark the interest in it.

• Neighborhood outreach: Cultural offices should be opened in every neighborhood to promote and encourage the arts.  Information could be obtained here (ticket information, fees, hours of events/venues).  There would be a relationship between these regional/neighborhood offices and they could work together.  They would be staffed with knowledgeable people and could become “neighborhood hub of art.”

• Passport program: Provides admission/transportation to various art/cultural activities at a minimal cost – for both families and individuals. It could include admission, transportation, parking, arts events, sporting events, and classes. It would “break down barriers.” Could be something like one would purchase 20 points, one of which could be for admission, one for parking, etc. 

• Buildings for artists: Money would be available to artists for rehabbing or new construction of buildings to be used for studio/living space. This would prevent artists being moved out of neighborhoods due to gentrification. They could be co-ops or non-profits. 

• Adult outreach: Bring performances/classes to neighborhoods to involve adults. It was noted that many adults have not had exposure to art and therefore, cannot expose their children to it. 

• Research: Study what citizens want, by neighborhood or community.

• Accessibility: Make the arts more accessible to people with disabilities. Improve transit.

• Partnerships with community organizations: Create a partnership with community cultural groups to bring arts/cultural activities to schools.

• Create "free time": Designate certain times during the year, e.g. August, “Free Tuesdays”, etc. for cheap or free admission to museums to encourage people, especially locals to visit.

• Public art donation: Increase the 1 percent donation to public art required by builders and developers in order to increase awareness.  Include performances in the donation. Allow more use of public space for art/performances. It was noted that the Fairmount Park Commission has no many rules that make it difficult to stage public performances. Create public, permanent performance spaces throughout the city and region.

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

The ideas from the above list, which garnered the most support for keeping, in the event of a budget cut were: advertising, outreach to schools, creation of neighborhood arts offices, and the Passport Program. There was discussion about making sure that the diversity of the arts (cultural and racial) is included in any effort.

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

• Safety
• Public transport
• Infrastructure
• Rivalry between city and suburbs
• Environment
• Weak economy/lack of jobs
• Education

Of these safety, environment, the weak economy/lack of jobs, and education were found to have a higher priority than arts and cultural issues.  

The effects of an increased focus on arts/culture would have on the issues named above, are listed below:

• Safety: Arts/culture would increase respect for neighborhood/city.

• Public transport: Arts/culture could increase ridership leading to the creation of more jobs.

• Infrastructure: Arts/culture would attract more people, creating more demand for a good city, which would equal more money.

• Rivalry between city and suburbs: none.

• Environment: Arts/culture could lead to improvement of neighborhoods, helping awareness and more care of public spaces.

• Weak economy/lack of jobs: Arts/culture could bring more people, which could lead to more jobs.

• Education: Arts/culture can lead to improved academic results.