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INITIATIVE AIMS TO BOOST DELAWARE’S BURGEONING ARTS INDUSTRY
Published August 2, 2023 9:44 PM |
MILFORD — The Delaware Arts Alliance on Wednesday kicked off a part of a major initiative to boost Delaware’s creative economy as artists and businesses continue to recover from the financial blow inflicted by the pandemic.
Backed by a $1 million grant, the arts and arts education nonprofit is seeking to create an exhaustive roadmap to guide policymakers on how to repair and grow the state’s vibrant — and financially valuable — arts industries. A morning event held just outside the Milford Public Library commenced the nonprofit’s monthslong efforts to gather input from the people with the most at stake — those whose work in arts and culture puts bread on the table.
The arts encompass a large and diverse group of industries that are both creative and drivers of economic value, said Neil Kirschling, executive director of the arts alliance, addressing a group of local and state officials gathered at the riverside amphitheater to mark the start of the plan’s next phase. “Think about the entire economic chain from the production of art, music, dance, film, theater… all the way through to the venues and restaurants and theaters that hosts these.
“We are intentionally positioning the arts as an economic driver in the state, not just a nice-to-have, a beautiful thing. Yes, art has intrinsic value,” he added, “but also, we know we are putting people to work.”
The two pillars of the Creative Economy and Cultural Tourism Recovery and Growth Plan — “It’s a mouthful; we’ll work on the branding,” Mr. Kirschling said — are research and community input. The community engagement process will consist of focus groups with artists, business owners and other stakeholders, as well as
a survey the arts alliance is encouraging as many creative-types as possible to take.
The project’s scope also includes documenting all of the people, organizations and places employed in or contributing to arts and culture throughout the state, he said — think of artists, venues and the like. The resulting data will be compiled into an online interactive map.
Another component involves a review of the rules and regulations of six “opportunity cities” to identify places it can be streamlined and improved to promote arts-related economic activity: Georgetown, Milford, Dover, Smyrna, Wilmington and Middletown. That part was a string that came attached to the $1 million grant awarded to the arts alliance last year, which came out of federal pandemic recovery funds distributed by the Delaware Division of Small Business, Mr. Kirschling said.
Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, Milford Mayor Archie Campbell, Rep. Bryan Shupe, R-Milford, and Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Ball joined representatives from the arts alliance to celebrate the occasion in the “River Town, Art Town” city’s downtown.
The arts in Delaware contribute $1 billion to the economy and account for 7,746 jobs, according to a 2021 analysis produced by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts. The lieutenant governor hailed the importance arts and culture play in the First State.
“I want — big goal — I want Delaware to be the number one place, families move, locate and work. A byline to the creative economy, I want Delaware to be the number one place that artists live, work and raise their families,” Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long said.
For Kerry Hallet, a Rehoboth Beach musician who was invited to play at the event, the initiative showed that the state is a place where artists are valued as the working professionals they are.
Back in Philadelphia, where she used to live, so many artists are vying for attention that some venues expect musicians to play for free. The arts alliance paid Ms. Hallet for her time on Wednesday. “It’s actually wonderful to be in Delaware, where this is a place where I actually can make a living being a musician,” she said.“To be welcomed and for people to underline how important the arts are to the community, it’s really refreshing.”