Creativity Exists in All Fields

Quote from the Americans for the Arts website:

"Nationally, 702,771 businesses are involved in the creation or distribution of the arts, and they employ 2.9 million people. This represents 3.9 percent of all U.S. businesses and 1.9 percent of all U.S. employees—demonstrating statistically that the arts are a formidable business presence and broadly distributed across our communities"

What is a creative industry? For The Americans for the Arts study they were conservative and used this definition:

"Creative Industries are composed of arts-centric businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and advertising companies. We have guarded against overstatement of the sector by excluding industries such as computer programming and scientific research—both creative, but not focused on the arts."

More attention has been paid recently to people in creative industries and the impact those industries have on the economy mainly as a backlash against a call by some for more science and engineering in our education system and a perceived need for more scientists and engineers in the US economy. Commonly known as the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) vs STEAM debate (as before but with the addition of the A for Arts).

As if we should have to choose between scientists and artists.

The key is in the second quote "...excluding industries such as computer programming and scientific research, both creative, but not focused on the arts." There is a nod to the notion that creativity exists in all fields, not just the arts. This holistic approach to education as a life-long and complete learning experience would serve education professionals better than the current "cafeteria" approach where everyone gets to fight for their particular field and put down those in other fields. It is the reason, I think, that Project Based Learning (PBL) is an idea gaining steam (sorry).

Instead of quick units on a specific topic or rote memorization of the answers to questions with a yes or no answer, PBL involves a problem, challenge, or complex challenge that is investigated over time using life skills such as critical thinking, communication, and yes, creativity. The method may be reminiscent of scientific research but PBL also follows the classic creative process model. Graham Wallas proposed this model of the creative process five decades ago but the simplicity of it--preparation, incubation, illumination, verification--endures today despite many, many modifications.

The beauty of the PBL approach is that is applicable no matter what the subject area. You can follow this method in physics, biology, math, music, art, computer programming, etc. This is what we should be pushing for in our education system. Forget the debate over which subject is better than another, there is no right answer to that one.

We should be teaching children how to learn, not what to learn.

For more information click Americans for the Arts to go to the site.

Support Your Local Arts Community

A strong arts community contributes to your city or town finances through tourism dollars. Tourists come to your community for art fairs or performances, and they end up spending money in your stores and motels. The basic economic theory is the more money your municipality takes in from retail and lodging taxes, the less you should have to pay in residential taxes. That's the theory, anyway.

But a strong arts community doesn't happen all by itself. It needs support from artist participation and from the citizens who give their time and money to the local arts scene. 

If you're interested in building the arts in your community, try these strategies and encourage others to do the same.

1. Visit local art shows. Strong attendance figures make local leaders sit up and take notice. 
2. Buy crafts made by local artists. Once in a while you can splurge on that one of a kind necklace or quilt.
3. By visiting those places where events are held you support the historic home or museum and possibly learn about local history.
4. You might learn something new, always a good thing, when the artist demonstrates their techniques.
5. Attend a performance that you might not ordinarily take an interest in. But open your mind to the experience-it's a key component in creativity.

Finally, if you are in a position to do so either at your job or as a business owner, consider a sponsorship. It's a win-win situation for you because you get your name out in front of your audience and position yourself as somewhat of a philanthropist. The event or product you are sponsoring benefits from your cash infusion.

You can support your local artists by donating your time or by purchasing the artists' products, but your support is always needed.

Here's a report on how the Arts impact the economy of your community:

Americans for the Arts

STEM vs STEAM: Why Are We Still Debating This?

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. STEAM is the addition of 'A' for the Arts. The STEM initiative arose out of concern that the U.S. was falling behind globally in those areas. According to the U.S. Department of Education only 16 percent of high school students are interested in a STEM career and have proven a proficiency in mathematics. (Source: http://www.livescience.com/43296-what-is-stem-education.html)

While I understand those concerns, what we need is a well-rounded education, balanced by subjects based in logic (STEM) and those in the Arts, e.g. visual art and design, drama, and music. A diet that is missing protein is bad for us. An education that is missing the Arts is also deficient.

Innovation is inherently a creative process and we need to practice creativity. To suggest that grade school education doesn't need the Arts is short-sighted.

As a parent, does your child's school include art, music and drama? If not, this is the time to start advocating for the arts.

Budget Cutting Made Simple-Cut the Arts

Yet another story of a government agency trying to manage their budget by cutting the arts. This is from the state of Michigan:

In each of the last seven years, the arts and culture industry, despite its vital and significant economic and social contributions, has faced unprecedented cuts in state funding, with dollars drastically dwindling from approximately $27 million in 2002 to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed budget of $1.8 million for 2010.

As if to pour more salt on a potentially mortal wound, a tax on entertainment is once again under consideration. Proposed by the governor, the state sales tax would be expanded to include a tax on tickets purchased for every professional concert, performance or sporting event. Under the proposal, none of the monies earned through the tax, to date, are earmarked for reinvestment in the arts.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090929/OPINION01/909290317/1008/opinion01/Cutting-arts-funding-disinvests-in-Michigan-s-future

A "Good News" Post

For a change, some good news for people in the arts community:

The N.E.A. is currently funded at $155 million, and the White House had requested an increase to $161 million. The agency received an additional $50 million through the stimulus bill. This summer, the House approved $170 million for the arts endowment, while the Senate proposed $161.3 million. The final budget was decided in conference this week and passed by a vote of 247-178 in the House and 72-28 in the Senate.



“This important budget increase recognizes the essential role the arts play in our lives, schools, and communities,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and chief of Americans for the Arts, an advocacy group, in a statement.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/congress-approves-budget-increase-for-arts-and-humanities-endowments/

The Essence of Who We Are

Couldn't have said it better myself. Now if only we can get politicians and the people holding the purse strings to agree...

"Specifically, a generation raised without awareness of the arts, without the opportunity to experience the arts themselves by making music, making drawings, making poems, is a disenfranchised one. Art is the essence of who we are and our society is strengthened whenever young people are given the opportunity to directly share this legacy." Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-tilson-thomas/michelle-obama-and-i-agre_b_321605.html

National Arts and Humanities Month

Visit the Americans for the Arts home page below to find out how you can celebrate the arts during the month of October (and all year round). If you're a parent, make sure your school is doing something to support the arts. As an employee, you can suggest that your company supports the arts, perhaps by sponsoring an event or an artist. Every little bit helps!

What is National Arts and Humanities Month?National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. Held every October and coordinated by Americans for the Arts, it is the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. From arts center open houses to mayoral proclamations to banners and media coverage, communities across the United States join together to recognize the importance of arts and culture in our daily lives.

http://www.americansforthearts.org/get_involved/advocacy/nahm/default.asp

Once Again, Arts Programming Needs Help in Schools

Research supports the fact that children who have arts programs in their education do better overall than children who do not. Even so, the arts are still though of as "only if we have the money" programs. So, this type of news story will continue to appear until we all get the message.

People in Utah, this is a woman that needs your help.

"According to a September 22 press release by the Friends of Art Works for Kids, the Utah State Legislature in 2008 voted to fund the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. Under the direction of the Utah Arts Council, the program provides quality integrated arts instruction to more than 50 elementary schools in 20 districts across Utah. It currently serves approximately 30,000 students.

Sorenson's goal is to see arts education in every elementary school in Utah."

http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20091004/LIFESTYLE/910040321/Keep+arts+learning+in+the+schools

Bad Economy Hits Local Culture

This is a local story, but it is being repeated all over the country. When the economy is bad, things that aren't a priority for living go by the wayside. If it comes down to a choice, will you put food on the table or go to see a local theater group put on a play? That would be a no-brainer. Here's another thought: instead of your morning coffee at Starbucks, bring it from home for a week and donate the money to a local arts organization.

Why? Because local arts organizations enrich lives. They bring in people from outside your community to spend their dollars inside your community. They provide opportunities for people to socialize with like-minded people and research after research proves that people with healthy relationships have healthier lives than people who don't. And we should all spend a portion of our time in the real world, not just the virtual one.

The local theater group here is the Town Square Players of Woodstock, Illinois. Support them if you can.

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2009/09/18/r_d1o2nybgscuqjxhaug2hw/index.xml

Why Aren't the Arts Taken Seriously?

Cruising through online sites like Craigslist and ODesk looking for freelance work, it bothers me so much that people who earn their living creatively aren't respected. Someone looking for a photographer on my local Craigslist said, "We don't pay, but you can use the photos you take for us in your portfolio." Really? How generous. ODesk, widely touted by ABC's Good Morning America last winter as a place for people to find work, recently had someone looking for someone to write articles 500 words or so for $2.50 per article "because they are easy to write." So if they are so easy to write, why not do it yourself? And ODesk is full of similar offerings, so much that I won't check there anymore. Let's not forget all the opportunities for "interns" (read: unpaid dogsbody).

Does your lawyer offer to represent you for free because s/he's building his resume? Does your doctor take care of you for free because s/he's just starting out? No.

The bottom line here is, no-one should work for free. Ever.

Sponsorships for the Arts

After waiting in line for hours, some fans sang, some screamed and others simply bobbed their head along with Elvis Costello's music as the singer took the stage in Hollywood earlier this summer.

But he wasn't performing at one of Los Angeles' famed music venues -- instead, hundreds of his fans had crowded against racks of albums inside of Amoeba Music, a giant record store which hosts frequent in-store performances.

Surprisingly, as many music and book retailers have shuttered in recent years, a number of stores -- like Amoeba -- haven't seen their sales fall at all.

How have they managed to do that? The book and record stores that have survived are playing up their roles as community centers that serve as unique cultural spaces rather than just a place to buy a quick CD or magazine.

Source: http://www.thewrap.com/article/not-just-sales-amoeba-music-booksellers-stay-afloat-getting-creative_5387


Events like this at independent stores are a obviously a marketing effort to generate more traffic, corporate sponsorship on a smaller scale. But an event like this also provides the opportunity for the artist to generate a following, and for the community to support their local musicians, writers, and artists. So it's a low-cost (unless you buy something) way to advocate for the arts. A win-win situation??

Tourism Dollars For Cultural Non-Profits

From Americans for the Arts:
On Tuesday, September 8, 2009, the U.S. Congress is scheduled to return from their summer recess and the Senate will begin consideration of S. 1023, the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. The House of Representatives is expected to take up this legislation later this year. Please tell your local senator to support inclusion of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in this bill!

The bill advocates spending money on tourism to attract people from around the world to visit America. That would be a good thing. Let's see some of that money go to the non-profit sector that knows how to make the best of what money they get. They promote America too.

http://www.americansforthearts.org/
http://www.artsactionfund.org/

Europeana, The EU's Virtual Museum

"Europeana, the European “virtual museum” offers from now on free access to more than two million books, paintings, videos and other digital documents from the cultural centers all over Europe. The European Commission's goal for Europeana is to make European information resources easier to use in an online environment."

In a perfect world, seeing those paintings or reading those books in person would be ideal. But the next best thing is to be able to call up those works of art easily on one's own computer, without the hassle of airline schedules, hotel problems, and the need for taking vacation time from work.

Although it has its problems, Europeana is the Gutenburg project of the arts. I'm looking forward to the improvements.

Museum of American Finance?

Not exactly on my list of "must sees" but interesting nonetheless because it points out one of the most fundamental concepts of art: beauty (or interest) is in the eye of the beholder.

I give the museum credit, grudgingly, because they were supported by big companies that got greedy and they lost some of that corporate sponsorship in the current credit crisis. They then had the courage to document and display some of the problems that led to the crisis. Maybe it's biting the hand that feeds them, but I have to give them credit for being true to their mission. (And I apologize for the pun. Sincerely.)

For the New York Times article about the Museum of American Finance, follow this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/business/22museum.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=arts&adxnnlx=1250960689-NtE6HAc7c+y25KRSyD3EGw

Illinois Arts Alliance Changes Name & Mission

From the Illinois Arts Alliance, known now as Arts Alliance Illinois:

"We have a modified name that puts the arts first and makes "alliance" more prominent, emphasizing our shared beliefs and collective action.

We have a new visual identity that symbolizes the many vibrant, creative voices that come together with greater focus and power through the work we do.

We have a new articulation of our mission: "Give Voice to a Creative State." This strong call to action acknowledges the power of voice to change lives, change attitudes, and transform neighborhoods and communities throughout Illinois.Whether you are an artist, an educator, an administrator, a community leader, an activist, a patron, or someone simply concerned with the quality of life in Illinois -- we all give voice to a creative state."

www.artsalliance.org

And if you don't live in Illinois, support your state's art groups!

Artists Need Healthcare Too

How many artists have access to healthcare that others get working in corporate America? By the very nature of the job (and we're not just talking fine artists), art workers are not as likely to have access to group healthcare. They are more likely to be independent and contract workers. (Which is a good enough reason by itself to move away from employer-based health plans!)

If you are at all interested in having reasonable health care available to all, no matter where you work, see what this coalition of arts organizations sent to congress. And then add your own voice.

http://www.artsusa.org/news/press/2009/2009_08_12.asp

What's Wrong With A National Cultural Policy?

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/article.asp?idart=11859

As I read this article on finding new ways to encourage the arts, my head started to spin. So many different cultural organizations, large and small, vying for consumer attention and money. Those art organizations that do manage to get public funding are attacked when showing controversial subjects. Some so-called artists bring that on themselves when they show a pile of garbage in a corner and call it art.

This article considers a national policy on culture but then likens it to old Soviet-style politics, " you WILL do things our way," not the way to inspire cooperation in freedom-loving Americans.

A simple, umbrella-type organization that catalogs all the little organizations in a searchable database is all that is needed. Search by type (dance, art, writing) or by area (East, Midwest) or by sponsor (company, arts organization) and a policy statement that says it promotes all the arts for people from cradle to grave.

Can a Minstry of Culture work in this country????

Arts and Cultural Organizations Offering Hurricane Assistance

While current relief efforts focus on immediate health care and survival needs for victims of hurricane Katrina, arts organizations are planning their own relief efforts.

For further information, click here:
http://ww3.artsusa.org/get_involved/membership/katrina/default_001.asp

Sears Sold Fine Art?

From the "who knew?" file:

At one time Sears, with the help of old time horror movie star Vincent Price, sold art by Picasso, Chagall, and others. Costco is trying to do that today - well, good luck!
What I like about this quote from the article is the "belief that art is everyone."
You got it.

Still, you can't help but be touched by the faith in middlebrow taste that once inspired the executives of America's best-loved mail-order store to try selling Picassos to their customers, assisted by a genial horror-movie star who shared their belief that art was for everyone. "It's just endless what you can learn from a single work of art," Price once said. "You can fill up the crevices of your life, the cracks of your life, the places where the mortar comes out and falls away--you can fill it up with the love of art." Who's telling us that now?

http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110007145

If It's Good Enough for Kate Moss...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/magazine/4183556.stm

This article mentions the rise of portraiture despite all the technological advances in photography today that threatens to make painting a lost art. But I've had a lot of fun with graphics created by scanning people's photos and playing with them in Photoshop, even though I still paint.

I'm sure that's what they thought when the camera was first invented and turn of the century artists called those who used the camera as a composition tool "cheaters."

Thanks to celebrities like Kate Moss, it is now trendy to have a portrait done.

I guess whatever helps keep art (and the artists) alive, I'm for it.