“…arts are not disconnected from job creation.”
– Alex Fischer, CEO of the Columbus Partnership, an economic-development group
Last week, NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman gave the opening remarks at the International Economic Development 2010 Annual Conference, New Paradigms: the Practice of Economic Development in a Changed Landscape (it seems the arts aren’t alone in reevaluating traditional practices).
In addition to his participation at this conference in Columbus, Ohio, Landesman was touring a variety of facilities with Alex Fischer, CEO of the Columbus Partnership, an economic-development group supported by leaders of the largest companies in central Ohio. He was visiting these sites and others across the country to evaluate which cities were “using the arts to create and sustain vibrant and livable urban and rural centers.”
In the Columbus Dispatch, Landesman is quoted as saying, “There are 5.7million full-time arts-related jobs in this country; they’re a real constituency.”
“We’re tired of being on the defensive. We’re going to be on the offensive.”
Landesman understands and cultivates the inherent synergistic relationship between the arts and other sectors, the NEA-HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) collaboration being among the more recent. The Chairman is not alone in his efforts. The Arts Commission recognizes the significant impact of the creative community and for this reason has served on the planning committee for the Governors’ Rural and Regional Development annual conference for some time now.
I hope you will join me next week in Flagstaff at the here. Below you will find an excerpt from the article.
NEA chief: Arts jobs as crucial as others
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 02:51 AM
By Jeffrey ShebanPresident Barack Obama’s colorful and controversial point man for the arts – alligator boots and all – touched down yesterday in Columbus to meet and rally the creative community.
The stop marked the latest on a multi-city tour for Rocco Landesman, a former Broadway producer turned chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts who isn’t shy about advocating the arts in times of economic hardship.
His message: Creative jobs in orchestras, in theaters and behind easels are just as legitimate and worthy of taxpayer support as those in health care, road construction and other professions.
