The Big Canvas Confab - Group One

The Big Canvas Confab - Group One

This group consisted of 32 people from around the region, ranging in ages from approximately mid- to late-20s to 60s or 70s. There was a mix of males and females, as well as Whites, Blacks and Hispanics. The most prominent idea to come out of this, as can be seen below, is the notion of the 3 C’s, which shaped much of the discussion and seemed to be the main theme everyone came back to. Moderators were Harris Sokoloff and Christopher Steinmeier. Philadelphia City Councilman Bill Green also joined the group. (Councilman Green noted that he arrived late and therefore didn’t hear most of the presentation of the outcomes from the forums. He had, however, read the Issue Discussion Guide.)

What elected officials thought most important:

• All approaches are sound and have strong upsides—the issue is not which we will implement but how can we use the best in each

• Approach 3 is a solid starting point, as it speaks to practical, business concerns and it’s written in a language funding institutions can understand

• Arts and culture funding has been cut, and will probably continue to be cut, so it is essential to think about 1) demonstrating a positive impact (which is not always financial, but often is connected to finances) or return on investment, 2) thinking not only in terms of funding but also involvement and participation, and 3) cross-promotion so that more institutions can benefit from the customers/patrons that already use their services

• Cultural passports, or some variation, and coordinated clearing houses are winning ideas, but we must not lose sight of a holistic approach to the issue

What the arts and culture leaders/workers thought most important:

• What are the ways in which we can use spaces, such as libraries, in collaborative ways that will keep costs down (don’t have to buy or create new spaces) and will give homes to community arts/cultural organizations which are often moving from place to place?
     → Libraries can be used in other ways and with groups to bridge this gap
     → Public schools are unused for many hours a week, and often during the summer, so why not use them—one issue with this is the level of dilapidation of many public schools, which makes them unsafe
     → Horticultural Center and Lansdale Center for Performing Arts were suggested as possible spaces which could be used for multiple purposes

• One way to increase awareness and collaboration is to tie arts/culture to the humanities so that more people know about them and how they impact the community

Discussion:

• We must make sure any money to schools is not wasted or used inefficiently

• Return on investment/outcomes do not have to be strictly financial.  Other outcomes – such as academic results, improved quality of environment, etc.  – would qualify.  But these do, also, sometimes lead to financial improvements, such as less money spent on juvenile justice system

• One citizen brought up the idea of a cultural loop bus which would link several arts/cultural institutions and make it easier for people to get to them

• Under what conditions would people use a cultural loop bus?
     → If it connected people to public transportation so they were not stranded by the loop bus
     → If it was marketed well
     → If arts/culture institutions partnered with it, not necessarily paying for it, but found a way to collaborate, such as running the bus during after-work hours so working people could use it

• Would people support an increase to sales tax which would go exclusively to arts/culture?
     → Some discussion, with one young man saying younger people would if they could be assured the money was going to a good cause. 
     → Others said no because there is money already out there to be found, such as taxing businesses who are not paying their fair share, rather than adding another burden to regular people

• Hours of operation can be challenging… closing at 5:00 most days can make it difficult for people to attend other than weekends.

• Like the idea of doing, not just attending.

Common ground:

• Getting there
     → Culture bus with different themes, types of performances
     → Loop bus and passport were both mentioned repeatedly as ways to get people to multiple institutions
     → Web site is great idea, but what about people who are not computer illiterate or who do not have internet access? (radio—arts/culture calendar on radio loop)

• Change the image/create awareness
     → Creativity as brand and motto
     → Work more closely with organizations like Innovate Philadelphia
     → Advertising (both internationally and to nearby areas, like NYC and Boston)
     → Make Philadelphia safer, then show people we are
     → Market to college students who come to the area and want to find things to do
     → Show Philadelphia as sophisticated, positive—make it a cultural destination

• The 3 C’s: Communicate, Coordinate, Collaborate
     → Overall this was the guiding theme of the conversation, and much of what was said for above ideas was echoed or elaborated under this umbrella
     → People seemed to believe this was most promising and easiest to accomplish; they also seemed to believe it would yield both immediate and long-term benefits
     → Examples might include:
          · Space bank, whether in new and permanent buildings or in existing buildings that are used on a somewhat rotating basis
          · A loop bus and passport would work best if the product of multiple institutions