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NH Creative Communities Connections
Highlighting the arts and a vital economy partnership
March 2012 |
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Greetings!
Many states are undertaking efforts to brand themselves as "the creative place," but it's an historically natural role for New Hampshire that continues to encourage and develop some of the best creative minds and businesses in the country. In this issue of NHCCC, you'll find New Hampshire featured in National News below as well as in Best Practices. As always, we learn from the success of others around the country but we should also recognize, understand, appreciate and nurture the leadership role that is uniquely New Hampshire. NH Creative Communities Connections is meant to inspire creative economy connections, portray the richness of creative New Hampshire, prompt new projects, legitimize the importance of creativity, and publicize how the results advance our communities and our state as a whole. Please let us know what you find useful and what you would like to see more of. And of course, share your success stories with us so that we may highlight your work and pass it along as a best practice. Sincerely, 
Joan Goshgarian, NH Business Committee for the Arts
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 Theatre and the Creative Economy by David Preece
In his 2005 acceptance speech at the NH Theatre Awards, James Whitmore opined that theatre is the greatest of the arts, "Writing, painting, singing, acting, sculpture and dance, all come together in theatre," he said, adding that the stage is the last means of expression where true human interaction is integral to the art. This fact may account for the ability of the theatrical arts to build lively and lasting connections within a community. Whether performing with an ensemble, or watching friends and neighbors on stage, social bonds are formed and community is strengthened. With the proliferation of town halls and performance spaces in virtually every city and town, community theatre helps sustain downtown character, to draw people out for a night of real entertainment, to demonstrate the invisible bonds of fellowship among local artists and to attract others into the creative community. To extend this community-building power across the entire state is a major goal of the New Hampshire Theatre Awards. Theatre has always been alive and well in New Hampshire.... read more. |
National News:
President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Report Prepared by NH's M. Christine Dwyer
 The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) announces the release of its landmark report Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America's
Future Through Creative Schools.
 | | Chris Dwyer of RMC Research, a national company based in Portsmouth, is on the board of the NHBCA. She has received many awards for being a leader in and a patron of arts and culture. |
The culmination of 18 months of research, meetings with stakeholders, and site visits all over the country, this report represents an in-depth review of the current condition of arts education, including an update of the current research base about arts education outcomes, and an analysis of the challenges and opportunities in the field that have emerged over the past decade. It also includes a set of recommendations to federal, state and local policymakers.
A summary of the report is here.
Download Resource
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Best Practices
Cloverdale CA Lumber Community Builds Arts Credibility
The Press Democrat, October 15, 2011
"Cloverdale, a former lumber mill town, is re-casting itself as a mecca for artists and artisans. With the realization that a major new industry or employer isn't coming any time soon, city officials have an economic development objective to make Cloverdale a destination for arts and culture. From the perspective of City Councilwoman Carol Russell, it's part of an evolution that comes with a beautiful, natural setting that attracts creative and eccentric personalities." Russell's comments come on the heels of the City Council's allocation last week of $59,000 to develop an 'artist/artisan incubator project.' The money comes from federal Community Development Block Grant funds, which target low-income populations-in this case not necessarily starving artists, but those that need a hand to sell their work." More...
Arts and Economic Prosperity Survey
Two NH communities have contracted with the Americans for the Arts to conduct a local study to quantify the broad economic impact of arts and cultural activities.
To see the results of recent NH surveys:
In the Monadnock Region
In Portsmouth
Cultural Plans/Master Plans
Many of NH communities have developed cultural plans. Some of these have been adopted or included in their respective city or town master plan. For more information or to view a sample, contact the NHBCA
National Samples of Live Work Space for Artists
www.artspace.org/properties/live_work.html
CultureCount is NEFA's creative economy database. Visitors can search a comprehensive directory of New England's cultural nonprofits, creative businesses, and individual artists. Other financial, grants, and geographic tools are built onto the directory.
If you know of a best practice that others would be interested in please let us know at arts@nhbca.com
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Regional and National News
New England Foundation for the Arts Releases Report on Cultural Nonprofit Impact New England nonprofit arts and cultural organizations support more than 53,000 full- and part-time jobs, according to a recent report by NEFA titled "New England's Creative Economy: Nonprofit Sector Impact." Arts and cultural nonprofits are one segment of New England's creative economy. The other two are creative businesses and creative workers. The NEFA study focused only on the nonprofit sector. "It's really about quality of place," said Dee Schneidman, research manager for the NEFA, which released the report. "Arts and cultural nonprofits are particularly important in New England because they contribute to their communities economically, and they also contribute to quality of life." Download the Report including New Hampshire Highlights National Endowment for the Arts Announces New Research on the Value Added by Cultural Industries Cultural industries are economic powerhouses and states have the data to prove it, according to a new analysis from the NEA. This is the latest in a series of NEA research notes to look at different ways to assign value to the arts. The NEA research note is available for download. The NEA Announces New Research Note on Artists in the Workforce Research Offers industry-specific, regional, and demographic data on the 2.1 million artists working in the U.S. See Research Note. Arts and Culture Data for Planning and Economic Development Professionals
Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, RMC Research Corporation examined the perspectives of planning and economic development professionals on the utility of different types of arts and cultural data. Findings about collecting and presenting cultural data more effectively appear in this report. Americans for the Arts Creative Industries Report Creative Industries: Business & Employment in the Arts reports continue to offer a research-based approach to understanding the scope and importance of the arts to the nation's economy. While most economic impact studies of the arts have focused on the nonprofit sector (such as our own studies), is the first national study that encompasses both the nonprofit and for-profit arts industries. Click here to view the reports. University of Minnesota Ann Markusen, professor, is the director of the Institute's Project on Regional and Industrial Economics. Currently, her research focuses on occupational approaches to regional development and on artists and cultural activity as regional economic stimulants. ArtSpace Artspace's mission is to create, foster, and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations. This mission is pursued through development projects, asset management activities, consulting services, and community-building activities that serve artists and arts organizations of all disciplines, cultures, and economic circumstances. By creating this space, Artspace supports the continued professional growth of artists and enhances the cultural and economic vitality of the surrounding community. New England Foundation for the Arts NEFA strengthens and supports the creative sector not only as a grantmaker, but also by providing tools and information which build the intellectual assets of the cultural community. NEFA's research and knowledge-sharing inform cultural decision-making and program development, and ultimately, enhance public understanding of how the arts contribute to the vitality of communities. Berkshire Creative [MA] The mission of Berkshire Creative is to stimulate new job growth and economic opportunity in the region by sparking innovative collaborations between artists, designers, cultural institutions and businesses.
Americans for the Arts Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010, Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. From offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it serves more than 150,000 organizational and individual members and stakeholders. |
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Artists and arts organizations are at the core of the creative economy. That is why the NH Business Committee for the Arts is partnering with the Department of Cultural Resources, Department of Justice, UNH School of Law and the NH Center for Nonprofits to provide support.
Members of the Arts and Culture industry - businesses large and small (including individuals), not-for-profits, municipal organizations and others - often need to seek a more solid understanding of key legal issues. But where can they find the resources to obtain this information and avoiding seeking help once it is too late?
The Arts, Culture and the Law Conference 2012 is a one-day event that brings together individuals from both the legal and Arts/Culture communities to discuss these issues. Throughout the day, blocks of 60- and 90-minute panel discussions addressing pertinent topics will take place; representatives from the legal and Arts/Culture industries will lead these panels. Sessions will begin with five-minute presentations, with questions from attendees making up the balance of the content.
John T. Broderick, Jr., dean and president of the UNH School of Law, and Michael Delaney, NH Attorney General, are scheduled to address the Conference.
Click here for more information
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Creative Community Feature of the Month:
Seeking, supporting, and celebrating the cultural richness of the Lake Sunapee Region The Lake Sunapee Region has long been a center for artists, writers and performers. The Center for the Arts celebrates this tradition by seeking to promote regionally and nationally known artists, programs, and cultural events. Partnering with local venues brings a wide variety of arts and cultural offerings to the area. These organizations bring their vision of a community that fosters arts and creativity to fruition. |
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 Concord Developer and NH Furniture Masters Team up for Gallery
Steve Duprey has provided gallery space to the NH Furniture Masters first permanent gallery and to the NH Art Association in his new downtown "Smile" building.
"I love trying to promote the crafts and arts in New Hampshire and for years have thought the NH Furniture Masters needed a permanent gallery. I just called them up and offered them the gallery space at the rent of 10 cents a year for 10 years. The gallery also makes for an outstanding entrance into Concord's new visitor center and is across the hall from the League of NH Craftsmen galleries.
I also gave a wall and space there to the NH Art Association. I am charging them the rent of 1 cent a year, or ten cents for ten years because they are getting less space than the NH Furniture Masters - they drive a hard bargain! It will give the NH Art Association a presence in Concord and an ability to hopefully put on openings and shows in conjunction with the NH Furniture Masters and the League."
 
Announcing the Opening
NH Furniture Masters Gallery
49 South Main Street
Concord
Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
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 You Should Know...
NH State Council on the Arts
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is a state agency enhancing the quality of life in New Hampshire by stimulating economic growth through the arts, investing in the creativity of students, making the arts accessible to under-served populations, and preserving heritage arts.
The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is a Division of the Department of Cultural Resources. Enabling legislation charges them to ensure that the arts play a significant role in the welfare of people in the Granite State. The mission is to promote the arts to protect and enrich New Hampshire's unique quality of life.
The State Arts Council provides a wide variety of services, competitive grants, and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, schools health care facilities and to individual artists, helping to ensure that the arts thrive in New Hampshire and are accessible to all. Funding for the grants and services is provided by the New Hampshire Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
The State Arts Council is part of a network of 50 state arts agencies and 6 arts agencies seated in US jurisdictions. All state arts agencies share similar goals that support increasing public access to the arts and ensuring that every community in America enjoys the cultural, civic, economic and educational benefits of a thriving arts sector.
The National Endowment for the Arts provides leadership and support for the work of state arts agencies through its State Partnership Grant Program. Important research and advocacy for the work of state arts agencies is carried out by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, a non-profit membership organization based in Washington D.C.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors  
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 Funding to develop NH Creative Communities Connections was provided by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. |
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The NHBCA was formed to educate motivate and recognize business support of and participation in the arts. In 2000 the NHBCA worked with the New England Council and the New England Foundation for the Arts to launch their Creative Economy Initiative. Since then, the NHBCA has been involved with the formations of various local creative economy formations, has promoted the economic value of creativity, and has made presentations to business and economic development groups. The NHBCA launched NH Creative Communities Connections to centralize information and promote the value of the creative economy by providing a resource of information, ideas and projects that will further enhance the creative communities of NH.
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