Discussion: The Arts Mean Business

[Admin]

From "The Arts Mean Business by Ken Busby" published on TulsaNow.org March 16, 2009

Forgetting for a moment about the aesthetic and "art for art's sake" arguments of why the arts matter (quality of life issues, which I hope we all know) let's get down to the fundamentals: the arts make darn good economic sense!

On a national level, the nonprofit arts sector generates 6 million jobs and $166 Billion--that's billion with a "B"--of economic impact. This is a pretty big constituency, making an enormous difference in the US economy.

Every day, we hear and read arguments from people who think that the arts are "fluff;" that we don't need to support the arts, we need to put food on the table. That public money should not be squandered on arts programs. And my favorite: that philanthropists shouldn't waste money on arts or culture--they should help people. (As if investing in the arts has no positive impact on people, jobs, or communities!)

Consider this: if you took the wealth of all the billionaires in the world and divided it evenly among every man, woman, and child in the world, each person would receive a one-time payment of less than $1,000. After that, there would be no more money to share. It would be a mere hiccup to the economy.

So, let's look at the arts as food for the soul AND the economy. Public funding for the arts has a tremendous economic multiplier: 8:1. Studies have proven that for every $1 the government invests in the arts, an additional $8 in private sector spending is generated. (How many of us wish we were getting a return of $8 for every $1 we invested?) That $8 is creating jobs, buying goods, and providing services – locally!

It's simple arithmetic. The arts industry is an economic generator with a powerful return on investment. (Talk about an economic stimulus plan!) Investing in the arts puts money in our pockets, food on our tables, and joy in our hearts.

One final thought. We just came off a four-day rally on Wall Street last week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 9% in value for the week. Some pundits were on the talk show circuit this weekend saying that this isn't a trend, and the Dow still has half its value of 18-months ago.

But consider what the Premier of China said last week: it isn't how much gold you have but how much confidence you have that makes the markets work. We need to believe that things are improving, and they will improve. History has proven this simple fact time and time again. It's like Professor Harold Hill's "Think System" in The Music Man. If you "think" the Minuet in G, you can "play" the Minuet in G.

So, believe that our economy is improving. Go buy a ticket to see a concert or an exhibition. While you're at it, make a donation to your favorite arts organization. You'll feel great, and you'll be helping the economy. You'll be providing jobs for hard working Americans. (Yes! Artists!) You'll get a terrific return on investment. And the self-fulfilling prophecy will be realized.

Ken Busby is the Executive Director & CEO of the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, which provides arts education to 150,000 youth and adults each year, mostly from at-risk and underserved communities, throughout Tulsa County.

We have gotten quite a bit of feedback on this, our first submitted article to our new articles section, via email.
Feel free to share your opinions here.

[TheArtist]

What a crock of bull... I mean really. 

[Hometown]

Interesting article.  Doesn't attempt to cover much other than a rationale for arts funding.  But does that adequately.  Many TulsaNow participants lien towards sophisticated and could manage a weightier piece.

I suggest you include a "By Line" beneath the title.  Look at the New York Times to see how they style and format their By Lines.  And you might bold and enlarge the font for the Headline.  You might also develop a slightly different style for Subheads and Photo captions.

Is anyone at TulsaNow doing Fact Checking on your articles?  That might avoid some future embarrassments.

[cannon_fodder]

What a crock of bull... I mean really. 

Yeah!  Who needs artists anyway. 
- - - -

HT:

You have some good insight into your neighborhood and other things going on in the city.  Not too mention a much different perspective on "old time" Tulsa than some people.   Show us how it's done!

As I understand it the articles are submissions by people in the community in their particular areas of interest and/or expertise.  Not sure if they are fact checked or not.  I imagine it is a "sniff test" to see if any in depth fact checking is needed.

/stand to be corrected.