Moore College in Philadelphia - Group One

The Big Canvas - July 30, 2008

People who attended:

• Relocated from San Francisco to Philadelphia; wants to participate in community, get to know the city.

• Center City; Works at Philadelphia Educational Forum and care about the arts.

• University City; works in a nonprofit.

• Center City; Enjoys arts, go to the Kimmel a lot.

• Center City; Arts student, new perspective.

• Society Hill; interested in the Arts, on a mission to keep the Barnes in the suburbs.

• A woman who works at the Independence Seaport museum in business development.

-- Moderators Benjamin Crommie and Ellen Petersen

For what do people use arts and culture?

• Bring together the community, meet one another.

• Educate people about different cultures and ethnicities.

• Provides a way to understand the history of the city.

• Brings in people from other areas.

• Creates pride.

• Tourism money.

• Brings in money.

• Educates kids, engages them.

• I can learn a specific skill like how to make a clay pot.

• Makes the city an interesting place to love.

• Showcases the city.

• Creates a place for ordinary people.

• Gives people “culture.”

• Gives kids something to do, other than sports, instead of crime.

• Gives an outlet for expression and marketing of city, its politics and issues.

Who are the users?

Young concert-goers, students, art museum attendees, artists, tourists, collectors; diverse groups of people who come together in a group for education, across socioeconomic groups; community organizations; teachers; business travelers; benefactors; members of various organizations; history buffs; foundations, city dwellers and suburbanites; volunteers; and children.

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

• A richer life.

• Expands your horizons.

• Educational.

• Recreational.

• Can provide synergies with or for other art mediums.

• Community building.

• Brings people to the city-unites suburbanites.

• Promotes volunteerism.

• Promotes regionalism.

• Can bring people to the suburbs.

• Provides a different set of perspectives.

• Inspires responsibility and participation.

• Preserves a moment in time.

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

• Cost though you can get free nights and rush tickets.

• Laziness.

• Communication-knowing what is available.

• Organization funding.

• Arts organizations forced to trade off revenues to provide free tickets.

• Transportation-access to events.

• Parking is expensive.

• Need alternative to driving due to cost of gas.

• Does an arts organization understand its audience and have the ability and cash to market to it?

• Political leaders need to be more involved in the arts.

• We need to see more conversation and cooperation, instead of competition, among arts organizations.

• There is not enough city/suburban cooperation.  For instance, groups from the city and suburbs should do more joint events to help build audiences.  There is also too much snobbery going in both directions.

• Corporations are not doing enough to support the arts.  They should partner with arts organizations to help with parking problems, and other issues (they should donate unused office parking in the evenings).

• The city should address issues of security.  This would help build suburban audiences for city events.

• The cost of participation, particularly arts education, is too high.

• Other comments: Mayor Nutter removed a barrier by reinstituting the Office of Arts and Culture.

You're part of a committee that's going to decide how $60 million gets spent. What's on your list? If there's only $20 million to spend. How do you prioritize your list?

The group split into two smaller teams and gave the following 10 responses.  We held a vote to prioritize and the vote totals are included.

• Create a program that subsidizes tickets for low-income people and advertise it well (include vouchers for parking and public transit). Advertise through Philly Car Share.  3 votes

• Education – provide instruments, materials, and lessons in schools for music and visual art.  Lessons must be consistent, frequent, and ongoing.  6 votes

• Create additional arts education opportunities outside schools, including field trips and transportation.  2 votes

• Fund outdoor venues and art events (including classical music and theatre) that are less expensive or free.  They would be located in neighborhoods to be accessible.  2 votes

• Provide grants to organizations for general operating purposes (“lights on” expenses), which are necessary, but hard to fund.  2 votes

• Fun competitions (with prizes) or less competitive open houses to encourage participation.  No votes

• Provide direct grants to arts groups and individual artists.  4 votes

• Fund art performances and educational/explainer events in communities run by artists.  1 vote

• Create a marketing fund to create programs and resources with the primary purpose of finding new ideas for arts administrators.  It would focus on smaller organizations.  1 vote

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

The seven participants were given three votes each.(See above for complete tally). The two ideas that received the most votes were:

• Education – provide instruments, materials, and lessons in schools for music and visual art.  Lessons must be consistent, frequent, and ongoing.  6 votes

• Provide direct grants to arts groups and individual artists.  4 vote

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

The group listed the following 12 issues as competing with arts and culture.  They determined that none of these issues, aside from “Bureaucracy,” were less important than arts and culture.

• Police and fire

• Education

• Affordable housing

• Public transportation

• Streets construction and repair

• Other infrastructure

• Medical care

• Bureaucracy

• Investing in new technology

• Rezoning Philadelphia

• Parks and recreation

• Community relations

To which issues are arts and culture complimentary?

• Education: Arts and culture can help teach history and help students understand life in the past.  It can also help develop critical thinking.

• Housing: The presence of arts and culture near residences can help make housing more desirable.

• Crime: Art can provide an alternative to crime.  It can also help engage people in prison, perhaps helping them to reform, but at least helping them open their minds and enjoy life.  (One member of the group began to dissent by saying she would rather see inmates learn a trade, but then the group agreed that the two were not mutually exclusive.)

• Community relations: Art (such as the Mural Arts Program) can get people working together.

• Parks and Recreation: Art and performance can enliven park space and provide after school activities for students.

• Technology: Students can learn new technology through art, such as the equipment and software for making graphic art, music, and film.