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Three members of the Cabarrus Arts Council staff joined more than 300 other arts advocates from across North Carolina in Raleigh Wednesday for Arts Day.

Noelle Rhodes Scott, president and CEO; Pat Verner, communications director; and Sara Heiser, theatre manager visited the North Carolina legislative office building where they met with Cabarrus representatives Jeff Barnhart and Linda Johnson, Rowan representative Fred Steen and Rockingham representative Nelson Cole to talk about the importance of the arts in North Carolina. They encouraged the representatives to retain the governor’s recommended Grassroots and arts program grant levels as well as to encourage an arts requirement for high school graduation.

“The creative industries employ almost 300,000 North Carolinians and contribute $41.4 billion in products and services,” said Noelle Rhodes Scott, quoting statistics from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.  “The presence of creative professionals in a given county is the single most important factor associated with the amount that visitors will spend, and counties with higher proportions of works in arts-related occupations are more likely to retain current residents and attract new ones.  The presence of creative works is also strongly associated with rising household income.”

The state senate’s general budget committee recommended a 5% cut in Grassroots funds, which local arts councils distribute to community organizations like the Old Courthouse Theatre and Southern Piedmont Woodturners, and a 7% cut in other arts grants. The arts advocates asked legislators to sustain the funds recommended in Gov. Beverly Purdue’s budget:  $2,710,245 in Grassroots funds and $3,873, 320 in program grants to nonprofit arts groups.

“Reducing these funds undercuts an industry that is the cornerstone of tourism, economic development, revitalization of downtowns and economic vitality,” Scott said.  “Nonprofit arts organizations are members of the business community, and increased support generates tax revenues and jobs.  Every $1 invested generates an incredible $17 in matching funds.”

Scott noted that all our local representatives, including Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, are extremely supportive and understand the importance of the arts to our community and state.

The Cabarrus Arts Council is dedicated to providing a wide variety of cultural arts programs that benefit the citizens of Cabarrus County.  The arts council programs and operates the Davis Theatre and The Galleries in the historic county courthouse in downtown Concord where its offices are located.  It also conducts one of the largest arts-in-education programs in North Carolina for the Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools, supports arts organizations and artists through grants and workshops and serves as a catalyst and consultant for public and corporate art.  For more information, visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org or call 704-920-ARTS (2787).

Filed under: Community Arts by admin