Anne Katz came from NYC knowing nothing about Wisconsin. She is very happy she wound up here and has been here over 30 years. She is all about the arts for public good.
The Creative Economy
The old economy: agriculture and manufacturing The new economy: creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship. Creativity is inherent everywhere, not just in big cities. Arts and creativity are core components for a well rounded education. Kids need to be problem solvers and work as members of a team.
Other states are doing more to invest in their creative economy. We have all the assets we need to succeed in the 21st century. Creative people, jobs and communities make up the creative company. Creative place making is all about how people feel about the place they live in.
Madison is the university, the capital, the environment. All of that is peacemaking. Communities should be investing in it. People want to live in places where there are things to do.
What makes a great place: is it accessible attractive fun things to do sociability (are people friendly)
The arts are important. There were orchestras in the concentration camps. People can’t help themselves. $657 million in annual expenditures from non-profit organizations (Overture and smaller). That’s money people spend on babysitters, gas, parking, dinner, shopping…the ancillary money. Lots of tax money collected by these non profits that goes back to these communities.
Wisconsin Arts Board has $800,000 matched by NEA to give out to all arts organizations in the state. 14 cents per person. Minnesota has $7 per person. There are generous and rich people who donate a lot. The government can put a little in to leverage the arts.
4.2% of GDP is invested in the arts. The arts are part of what makes a community livable. You want all people to be able to participate, whether they can pay for it or not. Concerts on the Square is not free but it is free to attendees. Most of the arts that happen are because of passionate people who work their butts off. Mineral Point put in a third of the budget to renovate their opera house. It is now restored that brings touring acts and local performances. Plymouth has a series of murals about their history.
Stoughton Opera House is another restored theater. Eagle River claims to be the snowmobiling capitol of the world. They now have a couple art centers with 3D printers, robotics, and more. The state is investing in a bunch of 3D printers for high schools around the state. This is a great 21st century resource for kids. The Fermentation Fest in Sauk does a huge public art tour in the fields. Professional artists and regular people. It draws 25,000 people which means lots of spending :) Arts Wisconsin lobbies for money for the arts and encourages arts in communities. The Creative Economy Initiative in Waunakee.