The Arts Fund
100,000 has been allocated for an Arts Fund in the Topeka city budget. As it turns out, the City Manager must include it in his budget by law. I had been told earlier this summer that getting funding for the arts into the city budget was not going to be an option this year, but since he had to put it in there, I think we need to show our support for keeping it. As you may have also noted in the article, the Mayor wants to cut this allocation in the next round.
The ARTS have not been included in the city budget for years. It is time to get this significant component of our community back on the radar. At this time I am not finding any details about how this funding is to be allocated. What I ask all of you to do, is to encourage our city council members to keep this expenditure- anything that the city can do to infuse some money into our local arts community is a good investment. Please don't get hung up on whether this particular fund will affect you or your organization directly- what is important is that SOMETHING happen here. As we have found out from the past few years, it takes all of us, with all of our efforts, to make the difference.
I'd like to encourage all of you to call or email not only YOUR city council member, but ALL of the city council members in support of keeping this fund. We must try, because it is so easy to cut funding for things that are not going to be noticed, and we need to show that we are paying attention.
ECONOMIC DRIVERS: The arts create jobs and produce tax revenue. A strong arts sector is an economic asset that stimulates business activity, attracts tourism revenue, retains a high quality work force and stabilizes property values. The arts have been shown to be a successful and sustainable strategy for revitalizing rural areas, inner cities and populations struggling with poverty.
EDUCATIONAL ASSETS: The arts foster young imaginations and facilitate children’s success in school. They provide the critical thinking, communications and innovation skills essential to a productive 21st-century work force.
• CIVIC CATALYSTS: The arts create a welcoming sense of place and a desirable quality of life. The arts also support a strong democracy, engaging citizens in civic discourse, dramatizing important issues and encouraging collective problem solving.
Be sure to thank each person for their role in making Topeka a great place to live! We want to be very gracious! (because if this doesn't work out this year, we're gonna be back next year and we want them to be happy to see us!)
Next First Fridays Artwalk is August 6!