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Berea mayor shares how arts can benefit a community (Clay Jackson/cjackson@amnews.com / January 11, 2013) |
Art is in.
While alcohol sales seems to be the attracting factor for Kentucky’s up and coming cities, art and culture cannot be overlooked when it comes to economic growth.
That’s what Berea Mayor Steven Connelly said during his visit Thursday to the Community Arts Center’s “New Year, New Art” exhibition.
Mary Beth Touchstone, executive director of the arts center, said Connelly was asked to visit because Berea is an example as to what Danville one day could be in terms of art and culture.
“Berea’s about 20 years ahead of us,” Touchstone said. “Maybe we want to be Berea when we grow up.”
But Connelly said Danville “leads” the way for Berea in more ways than its residents probably imagine and that Berea and Danville are really quite similar, as both attract tourism through Berea College and Centre College, and both are recognized artistically.
Connelly also noted that each city has its advantages, with the interstate going through Berea, and the sale of alcohol in Danville, but that “art-related activities are also a strong draw.”
Connelly said Berea receives more than 260,000 visitors each year at the Kentucky Artisan Center. The town’s annual craft fairs attract thousands, and multiple other events, including those held by Berea College, bring in even more.
“The impact of tourism is difficult to quantify, and people disagree about its significance,” Connelly said.
But Connelly said the results of tourism research in the city in 2009 were “interesting.” Tourism and travel has contributed $36.7 million to Berea’s economy and has generated $1.3 million in local taxes.
The revenue accounted for a significant increase in employment.
Connelly said certain taxes, such as Berea’s restaurant tax, are great supporters in this kind of growth, but that Danville would have to find its own positives to work with. He said one city cannot reproduce another city’s catalyst.
“You all have such a masterpiece of a facility,” Connelly said of the center. “I¿know you all know what you have, but it’s a real jewel.”
Connelly said one way of boosting the arts is by selling an experience to tourists, not just selling the art or product.
For example, he said Berea has been successful in gaining overnight visitors with annual “learn shops.”
The learn shops feature classes for all age groups that can be experienced for one day or an entire weekend.
Touchstone said, designated by the Cultural Arts Council, Danville is one of five cultural districts in Kentucky, and that she agrees with Connelly’s information.
“What we’re learning is, I¿mean it’s an evolutionary process for all of us, the arts are really critical to recruitment of people and retention of people,” she said.
Touchstone said, for example, if Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center was trying to recruit a certain doctor to the area, the arts and culture of Danville would be a crucial part of selling Danville.
“One of things they’ll do is bring the doctor, the doctor’s family, over here to the arts center,” Touchstone said. “To show them, you know, that we have art. Or they’ll take them to a play, or they’ll take them to the Norton Center. Just placing that cultural basis.”
Touchstone said no matter how much industry a city has, its ability to keep people is by developing the town.
Sharon Duncan, a member of the center’s board, thinks Connelly’s advice will help emphasize how arts impact the overall community and quality of life in the area.
“I¿think it’s important that people hear it from local people, but also to hear it from someone from such an arts community,” Duncan said.
Thursday’s “New Year, New Art” exhibit at the Community Arts Center was attended by several of the artists featured, as well as enough guests to crowd the Grand Hall of the center.
Refreshments were available on a center table, along with champagne and punch.
The new art was displayed both upstairs and downstairs, with some rooms featuring certain artistic themes.
Touchstone said all of the art in the exhibit was created within the past four months especially for the exhibit.
“It really showcases the wonderful quality of our artists and craftsmanship that we have in our region,” she said. “All of these artists are local and regional artists.”
While alcohol sales seems to be the attracting factor for Kentucky’s up and coming cities, art and culture cannot be overlooked when it comes to economic growth.
That’s what Berea Mayor Steven Connelly said during his visit Thursday to the Community Arts Center’s “New Year, New Art” exhibition.
Mary Beth Touchstone, executive director of the arts center, said Connelly was asked to visit because Berea is an example as to what Danville one day could be in terms of art and culture.
“Berea’s about 20 years ahead of us,” Touchstone said. “Maybe we want to be Berea when we grow up.”
But Connelly said Danville “leads” the way for Berea in more ways than its residents probably imagine and that Berea and Danville are really quite similar, as both attract tourism through Berea College and Centre College, and both are recognized artistically.
Connelly also noted that each city has its advantages, with the interstate going through Berea, and the sale of alcohol in Danville, but that “art-related activities are also a strong draw.”
Connelly said Berea receives more than 260,000 visitors each year at the Kentucky Artisan Center. The town’s annual craft fairs attract thousands, and multiple other events, including those held by Berea College, bring in even more.
“The impact of tourism is difficult to quantify, and people disagree about its significance,” Connelly said.
But Connelly said the results of tourism research in the city in 2009 were “interesting.” Tourism and travel has contributed $36.7 million to Berea’s economy and has generated $1.3 million in local taxes.
The revenue accounted for a significant increase in employment.
Connelly said certain taxes, such as Berea’s restaurant tax, are great supporters in this kind of growth, but that Danville would have to find its own positives to work with. He said one city cannot reproduce another city’s catalyst.
“You all have such a masterpiece of a facility,” Connelly said of the center. “I¿know you all know what you have, but it’s a real jewel.”
Connelly said one way of boosting the arts is by selling an experience to tourists, not just selling the art or product.
For example, he said Berea has been successful in gaining overnight visitors with annual “learn shops.”
The learn shops feature classes for all age groups that can be experienced for one day or an entire weekend.
Touchstone said, designated by the Cultural Arts Council, Danville is one of five cultural districts in Kentucky, and that she agrees with Connelly’s information.
“What we’re learning is, I¿mean it’s an evolutionary process for all of us, the arts are really critical to recruitment of people and retention of people,” she said.
Touchstone said, for example, if Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center was trying to recruit a certain doctor to the area, the arts and culture of Danville would be a crucial part of selling Danville.
“One of things they’ll do is bring the doctor, the doctor’s family, over here to the arts center,” Touchstone said. “To show them, you know, that we have art. Or they’ll take them to a play, or they’ll take them to the Norton Center. Just placing that cultural basis.”
Touchstone said no matter how much industry a city has, its ability to keep people is by developing the town.
Sharon Duncan, a member of the center’s board, thinks Connelly’s advice will help emphasize how arts impact the overall community and quality of life in the area.
“I¿think it’s important that people hear it from local people, but also to hear it from someone from such an arts community,” Duncan said.
Thursday’s “New Year, New Art” exhibit at the Community Arts Center was attended by several of the artists featured, as well as enough guests to crowd the Grand Hall of the center.
Refreshments were available on a center table, along with champagne and punch.
The new art was displayed both upstairs and downstairs, with some rooms featuring certain artistic themes.
Touchstone said all of the art in the exhibit was created within the past four months especially for the exhibit.
“It really showcases the wonderful quality of our artists and craftsmanship that we have in our region,” she said. “All of these artists are local and regional artists.”
