Villanova - Group Two

The Big Canvas - July 24, 2008

There were 13 participants in the session. Eight are involved with the arts, one is a civic association co-chair, and one is the exectuive director of the Lenfest Foundation. The reasons why they came: arts lover, curiosity, art is the most important topic, art is an important topic for the city and the children, to see what Great Expectations is about, the arts are essential to any culture, interest in arts, education, and the environment (Lenfest ED), and moving to Philadelphia because of its arts and culture. -- Moderator Louise Giugliano and Jean di Sabatino

For what do people use arts and culture?

Meet attending local art shows, spiritual experience, entertainment, fun and dating, recreation and relaxation, supporting friends and art organizations, revitalizing self, voice dissent and create hope as self-expression, expand relationship with friends and family through a shared experience, understand other cultures and people, savor experiences as milestones in life, educational even life altering, art classes, professional development, intellectual stimulation, personal enlightenment, therapeutic, connect with people you would not have otherwise, get beyond logic and rational thinking, determines my travel plans/go to art centers, tourism, gives context to the place you are in, Philly Sound, story telling, experience contemporary culture such as freelance artists, First Fridays, ethnic fairs like those at Penns Landing, and in unexpected places like train stations.

Who are the users?

Students, seniors, community folks, families, kids, people who work in area, visitors, professional artists and designers, graffiti artists/the voiceless, prisoners, patients, homeless/Project Home.

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

• Makes me happy.
• Makes me think or stop thinking.
• Makes me feel.
• Creates intimacy.
• It is an expression of our humanity.
• “Esthetic arrest.” James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man.
• Makes you think of possibilities.
• Reflects and projects society (mirrors and windows).
• Self-discovery.
• Breaks down barriers.
• Opens us to difference.
• Makes us tolerant.
• Gestahlt experience.
• It is a collective experience i.e. breathing together.
• Mental yoga, a way to stretch and challenge self-perception.
• Flexibility and newness.
• Creates comfort, as an escape to the future and from the past.
• It is challenging or “mind candy”.
• It enriches/determines my travel.
• Economic impact/ how I make my living / and for the region.
• Attracts jobs and tourists.
• It changes / alters my environment.
• For decorating.
• Historic preservation.
• Educational value / teaches history.
• For youth it is an “anecdote for shame”, i.e. being an outsider is ok.  It gives voice.
• It is a lifeline on a personal level.
• Culinary attractions contribute to city.
• Outlet for the underserved through community centers.
• Therapeutic for the observer / cathartic for the artist.
• Helps relieve pressure like singing.

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

• Lack of money for capital expenses.
• Affordability of tickets.
• Money to pay artists and expand possibilities.
• The cost of travel is an obstacle.
• Students stop studying art because they are concerned about being able to make a living.
• Recognition of what counts as art / the legitimacy issue. There are various norms that conflict.  They want more varied experiences.
• Elitism.
• Expressed concern about a limited definition of art.
• The lack of funding for arts organizations.
• Pulling art from the public schools diminished its value. We have kids that lack awareness of and appreciation for art.
• Some labels are off-putting such as “opera” or “hip hop” because people have preconceived ideas about them.
• Time is an issue: the time it takes to get into the city, the lack of leisure time, so many choices competing for our time, and all of the demands on people.  Work has taken over our time.
• Being an artist is not valued.
• For city kids there are issues of poverty, no experience with art, and the perception that some art is not for them. They are isolated and there are issues of safety. There are also other demands on them.
• Logistics, the getting there.  Access.

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

• With 8 votes – Arts and music in K-12 public schools for every child.  No student left behind in art.  Have a residential artist. Each child per grade will attend a series of events making art pervasive throughout the curriculum.  A small artist council designs the curriculum and curates. Performances and venues in the schools.  Study art history and history of art in Philadelphia.  Experience with art production, the behind the scenes aspect of art.

• With 6 votes – Bringing arts into community. Different venues for sharing art. Exposure of local artists.

• With 5 votes – Capital funding through a long term investment
endowment to provide: a grants program for smaller arts groups, for infrastructure, for buildings, for practice space, and for a real arts campus.

• With 3 votes – Subsidize free tickets and entrance fees.  Buy a ticket and get a token for public transportation. Create a Philadelphia Ticket Master. Tessaterra is an example of this substitute for Ticket Master and centralized reservations.

• With 1 votes –Coordinated and centralized marketing to support small groups. “Engaged 20-20” of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance as an example.  Funds for marketing. Market research centralized.

• With 1 votes – Art for the “New nuclear family.” Free childcare with arts play in the venues. Fund public TV to record live performances and over the Internet.  Embrace media to share arts.  Arts while waiting for social services such as health care. Broadcast art on the walls of buildings for outdoor experience.

• With 0 vote –Apprenticeship and mentoring programs.  Senior artists. Older artist / younger artist.

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

Vote indicates that the issue is a priority over the arts.
• Public safety, supporting police, fire and cameras on street.  7 votes.

• Education. 10 votes.

• Health care: access to, quality of, and the cost of health care. 9 votes

• The never-ending war: soldiers returning, the loss of lives, and gas prices. 1 vote.

• Economic development. 1 vote.

• Transportation: the aging system against increase ridership. 5 votes.

• Environment: need for alternative transportation. 12 votes.

• Infrastructure: roads, electricity. 4 votes.

• Future disaster recovery. 1 vote.

• Home Land Security. 0 votes.

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

Vote indicates that this concern can be improved through pairing it with the arts.
• Public safety – 13 votes

• Education - 13 votes

• Health care – 2 votes.

• Never-ending war – 1 vote

• Economic development – 13 votes

• Transportation – 0 votes

• Environment – 6 votes

• Infrastructure – 0 votes

• Future disaster recovery – 0 votes

• Home Land Security – 0 votes