Which comes first?

From Bowling Green, Kentucky, in a news story about a proposed performing arts center:

“The key issues in some ways has to do with where do you start?” he said. “Do you start by supporting building a performing arts center, or do you start by trying to build a demand for the arts?”

Sounds like the proverbial "Which comes first? The chicken or the egg?" The article goes on to suggest that people get involved in the arts for personal reasons, rather than economic benefit. So when it comes to selling an arts center to the community you should target those personal reasons. My own thought is that the elected officials of any community will evaluate your project based on economic benefit. You need these people to approve your building and zoning issues, your traffic patterns, and your impact on the neighborhood. And dollar signs are the best way to approach them.

If you want to read the entire article, please follow this link:

http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/stories/public/200503/20/0004aaZZ_news.html