A presentation by the Arts and Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County

 Celebrates the character of a county.  Reinforces a sense of place  Benefits the broader community – not just a single organization  Identifies cultural resources for county wide planning, sustainable economic development and quality of life

 The 2004 Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan included a one page Appendix E for Culture and the Arts.  The 2008 Cultural Plan was funded by the Jefferson County Commission and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts under the Community Arts Project Support  Consultant Elizabeth Wheeler was retained by the Arts and Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County to produce the cultural plan. It was presented to the Jefferson County Commission in February of  The goal of the Arts and Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County is to incorporate the cultural plan into the forthcoming Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan – Envision Jefferson 2035.

2010 – Jefferson County was designated a Certified Arts Community

 Encourage partnerships between government and cultural organizations to promote the arts as part of economic development  Identify Jefferson County as a cultural destination  Recognize the arts as an essential ingredient in economic development

 Provide leadership to maintain the county’s CAC designation : Promote Jefferson County’s diverse creative community to attract tourism & support sustainable economic growth Support emerging artists, artisans and non-profit cultural enterprises Provide educational and leadership development opportunities and partnerships that encourage creative growth and initiative Strengthen existing and develop new partnerships to enhance Jefferson County arts footprint in the region

 Build the capacity of the arts and culture sector to contribute to economic development  Foster economic viability of the cultural sector, providing employment and attracting new creative industries  Improve the quality of life for all county residents through increased access to cultural programming and arts education & appreciation opportunities

 In 2010, AHA! completed the Certified Arts Community application process on behalf of Jefferson County  In November 2010, Jefferson County received the Certified Arts Designation.  Jefferson County shares this designation with only 7 other counties or towns in the state of West Virginia.

 America's nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year, including $24.4 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues.  $53.2 billion is spent annually by arts organizations  $80.8 billion is spent by arts audiences

 $100,000 arts and culture organization spending in population of 50,000 creates 3 full time jobs $6,500 in state and local taxes $28 in event related audience spending per person.  $80.8 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences = average $22.87 per person spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments  Tourists spend nearly twice as much as local attendees

 Tomorrow’s high quality, high paid workforce will be the new “creative class”  Who are the new creative class of workers? Technology Professionals Arts & Culture Experts Managerial & Analytical Education & Training Professionals  Source: Steve Morse, Ph.D. Arts as Economic Driver

 The next generation of creative class workers and entrepreneurs are attracted to locations that offer: Music Arts History & Heritage Nature & Outdoors  Source: Steve Morse, Ph.D. Arts as Economic Driver Shopping Agritourism Recreation & Gaming Food

 Arts support development of the quality of life that is inviting to the “creative class” providing: Local unique flavor Sense of community Diverse entertainment opportunities Great shopping! New businesses

 County Commission allocates annual funds to AHA  New arts and culture magazine, Fluent, launched  Contemporary American Theater Festival Success  New artists’ cooperative launched  Old Opera House drama and dance education expansion  Full Circle Theater Company  Arts spokesperson on county’s long-term planning commission  AHA president named to CVB Board  Arts spokesperson appointed to Chamber Board

 Jefferson County Development Authority  Chamber of Commerce  Convention and Tourism Bureau  City of Charles Town  Washington Street Artists’ Cooperative

 Tap creative residents for interdisciplinary education  Expand county libraries’ role in dissemination of cultural linkages  Establish County arts center with visual, performing, literary arts events, galleries, classrooms, studios, auditorium, rehearsal space, café  Establish “art mobile” [Van Go] project that brings art to children in their school settings  Hold quarterly cross-fertilization seminars open to the public, led by teams of artists, engineers, scientists in the county