Judy is Arts Coordinator, Palatine Park District, with a background in theatre arts, oral interpretation, communications, dance, and theatre education. She spends a great deal of her personal time with community theatre, either acting, producing, designing or building sets. She otherwise can be found on third base playing softball, waterskiing, or gardening.

Mimist performs at poolside.

The professional has a never-ending commitment to be sensitive and responsive to the desires of a society, if he wishes to progress in his career and further his chosen field. Our attitudes must be such that change is seen as a product of the life function itself. The process of change demands foresight, respect, and action.

It is unfortunate that some people think that parks and recreation is a field which requires no formal research. All industries find a vital need to examine the cause — effect — solution relationships. As professionals and decision-makers in leisure services we too must study, review, experiment and learn what the keys are to producing a more healthy, happy life within our communities. The arts is one such area which needs careful examination. Items:

In the nation as a whole, ballet performances last year drew 15 million people, (up from 5 million in 1973), one-half million more than the turnout for NFL Football.¹

Last season the opera had 9.2 million audience members, twice the number for the 1969-70 season.

"In New York, more people go to opera, theatre, and museums, than to all football, basketball and baseball games put together" says Billy Martin, Manager of the New York Yankees.

There are approximately a billion poeple annually who visit an estimated 8,000 museums in the United States. The major institutions are in the heart of cities and probably 250,000,000 visitors utilize urban institutions.²

Yet is is the arts which have become a victim of crippling cutbacks. Two arguments against these budget cuts demonstrate the important monetary value of the arts in a city. But first, let's review what we mean by the arts.

The arts need to be well defined in the minds of all involved programmers. Terms such as the fine arts, arts and crafts, performing, visual, cultural, creative, and theatre arts are quite common. The arts, as being referred to throughout this article, can be thought of as "the energy and product of creative expression".

Consider for a moment the economic impact of the arts. First, as a direct result of arts activities in a city or community, the restaurants, merchants, public transportation, and other services benefit financially. A second factor and ideally a more significant one relates to the absence of the arts and these side effects: the "quality of life" in your community will be slowly sacrificed for dollars. Realize these dollars cut back not only the arts, but also the long-term vitality of your city.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 8 September/October, 1979

The arts are an essential aspect of a city's life, not only adding refinement, quality and enrichment, but the arts also are a benefit in terms of the city's economics. Being blind to this usefulness in promoting balanced economic growth is being ignorant.

A good business team can develop with the arts as a partner. Several Chicago restaurants offer special prices, meals, and services in cooperation with local art activities. Restaurants have recognized the positive economic impact that such activities create. Peter Schneider, Board Member of the League of Chicago Theatres and Managing Director of the St. Nicholas Threatre, says, "Such cooperation is good not only for theatres and restaurants as community businesses, but also for audiences."

A New York study of the economic impact of Broadway theatres on that city explains the following ripple effect: "... if the theatres were suddenly to disappear from the city, the losses to restaurants, hotels, taxis, etc. would represent only the first layer of those affected; others who derive income from these enterprises would consequently suffer losses, and so on down the line. The same study quantified only direct losses for the 1975 strike of nine Broadway theatres. These facts are:

Revenues of taxi owners and operators fell $117,000 per week.

Parking lot operators lost approximately $50,000 per week.

Restaurants suffered a decline in revenues of $510,000 per week.³

For every one dollar of funds spent for the arts, it is estimated that between three and four hundred dollars are generated for a city, directly and indirectly. Direct expenditures associated with Chicago arts and cultural organizations totalled an estimated $156 million in 1976, including $80 million spent by audiences attending events. Based on these direct expenditures, the multiplier effect of monies spent for subsidiary services, and the ripple effect on the economy was estimated to be $470 million dollars!⁴ The arts, rather than representing an expensive luxury for a city, is in fact, a necessity to generate additional money. It is the livelihood for many communities. What might be an effort on the part of some to save money will, on the contrary, result in revenues lost for a city.

Yes, we have to spend money to make money. The arts are a "blue chip" investment for a city's future.

Maynard Jackson of Atlanta said in a statement prepared for use in the President's Urban Policy discussion:

"The arts are the very highest expression of the urban life; the cultural enrichment that is possible in an urban setting is the highest and most eloquent justification of the city itself; the arts and the city are inseparable.

The arts show us who we are and where we are going, whether as a neighborhood, a city, or a nation. Taken in their totality, the arts — ambience, design, enrichment, and opportunity for expression — are more than an isolated set of events or activities. The arts are the essence of our civilization and our hope."⁵

¹ Horizon, the Cultural Scene. July 1978, page 24

² Lee Kinche, Director. Museum Services Institute, HEW, Internal Communique, July 11, 1978

³ Mathtech. Inc.. The Impact of the Broadway Theatre on the Economy of New York City Prepared for the League of New York Theatre and Producers, Inc.. February 27, 1977. page 7-8

⁴ Chicago Council on Fine Arts. "A Survey of ARTS and Cultural Activities in Chicago," August. 1977. page 2

⁵ Jackson, Maynard. A.V.S.. Conference of Mayor's Position Paper. "The Taxpayer's Revolt and THE ARTS."

Other References: Refer Chicago Arts Vol. 2 No 5 May/June 1979: A.V.S. Conference of Mayor's Position Paper "The Taxpayers' Revolt and THE ARTS."

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With what better ammunition do we need to begin programming for Illinois' Arts Week scheduled for October 6th - 13? IPRA and the Illinois Arts Council are pooling all their energies and resources to launch the second annual Arts Week.

Our goals for Illinois Arts Week are:

1. To involve over 100 communities and/or park districts in some way with Illinois Arts Week.
2. Obtain public awareness for both organizations.
3. Strive to cooperatively work with the other arts-minded clubs in a given community.
4. Expose an entire community to various art forms.
5. Develop a stronger commitment to support the arts from park districts, clubs, and the residents from town to town.

Both the Illinois Arts Council and the IPRA board members felt that many benefits could result from this cooperative effort.

1. Greater participation in Arts Week throughout the state

See STRATEGIES. .. Page 36

Illinois Parks and Recreation 9 September/October, 1979

STRATEGIES...
From Page 9

because of the involvement of park districts and recreation departments.

2. An excellent opportunity for community organizations to work together and with the park districts in an area in which many districts may not have been actively involved. Ideally, the park district professional would act as Arts Week chairperson.
3. A further of understanding of one another and how our organizations can compliment each other.
4. Development of a stronger working relationship between IAC and IPRA.
5. Visibility for IPRA, IAC, and the arts throughout the state of Illinois.

Information and ideas concerning Arts Week have been mailed to the IPRA membership. If you have not received this information or have additional questions, please feel free to contact IPRA Committee Chairperson Judy Bergh, Palatine Park District, or a regional representative listed below.

Now is the perfect opportunity to join forces with others in your community to promote the arts. Remember — "MORE ARTS FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY".

REGIONAL ARTS WEEK REPRESENTATIVES

Champaign Urbana:
Dan Perrino         217-333-1661

Chicago-Northside:
Gayle Binder         312-945-0650

Chicago-Southside:
Fran Lanagan         312-748-9473

Northwest Suburbs:
Trisha Hall        312-530-0950
Judy Bergh         312-991-0333

Peoria Area:
Becky Hansen         309-688-3667

Rockford Area:
Webbs Norman         815-987-8850

Illinois Parks and Recreation 36 September/October, 1979