The Arts are
Good Business
Ralph J. Stalter, Jr.
Chairman, Advisory Board of the Cultural
Corridor Theatre Center; management
consultant to Nevada Repertory, Nevada’s
only member of the prestigious League of
Resident Theatres (LORT).
RalphStalterConsulting.com
Continuing my emphasis on
community arts impact and its
benefits, I was excited to read
the position one of the largest
utilities in the state had to say.
Here is a commentary from
their Community Relations
department.
— Ralph Stalter, Jr.
by Karen Ross
8
N
V Energy was honored last month by Americans for the Arts and the Business Committee for the Arts as one of ten exemplary businesses nationwide
for contributing to the arts. Nominated by the Nevada Arts Council, NV Energy became the first business in the state to be honored with this recognition.
Support for the arts contributes to communities that thrive and grow. Although
the return on investment for a business may at first seem intangible, the long-term
results speak for themselves in terms of economic diversification, tourism and educational performance.
Northern Nevada is in the midst of a rebirth, and the climate for economic development is robust as new businesses relocate to our region. Now is the time to support
Nevada’s vibrant arts community. As our northern Nevada communities benefit from
new activity and new business, here are three reasons why your business should consider moving beyond being a patron of the arts to becoming a financial contributor for
the arts as well.
A THRIVING ARTS COMMUNITY HELPS RECRUIT TALENT.
Employees want to live and work in a vibrant community. Arts businesses and the
creative people they employ stimulate innovation, strengthen America’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, and play an important role in building and sustaining
economic vibrancy.
THE ARTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
When you partner with local arts organizations, you partner with the whole city.
Americans for the Arts conducted a study that quantified the direct economic impact
of arts and culture organizations and audiences in Clark County, Nevada. In 2010, the
arts contributed to $56,312,612 in economic activity in Clark County alone. Cities of
all sizes that, even minimally, invest in their local arts organizations can see economic
benefits. (Source: Arts & Economic Prosperity IV: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit
Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in Clark County.)
ARTS DRIVE TOU RISM.
Arts travelers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek out
authentic cultural experiences. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the
percentage of international travelers including museum visits on their trip has grown
steadily since 2003 (18 to 28 percent). The share attending concerts and theater performances has grown from 14 to 18 percent since 2003. (Source: Americans for the Arts
Creative Industries Data).
Nevada is home to nationally acclaimed arts organizations like the Nevada Museum of Art and the Smith Center in Las Vegas. Each July, Artown hosts more than 500
dance, music, theater, and visual arts events in just 31 days, most of which are free.
Rural Nevada is also home to an arts scene with treasures such as the Western Folklife
Center and National Cowboy Poetry gathering in Elko, and cultural assets like the Churchill Arts Council and the Oats Park Art Center in Fallon. These are just a handful of the
dozens of arts organizations supported by NV Energy. We encourage other businesses
to join NV Energy and the many other supporters of arts organizations, in helping to
sustain a rich cultural life for our Nevada communities.
The Philantrepreneur Journal