As I write this, critical conversations about the future of arts and culture funding in the City of Jacksonville are occurring downtown. At the very same time, I'm listening to the sounds of local community members coming together to experience humanity with one another through laughter, joy, song and dance here at Players by the Sea. It's an odd, but important, juxtaposition.
The impact of arts and culture on a community cannot be overstated and it certainly shouldn't be understated. City Council is being asked to maintain a recommended investment of more than $6 million in arts and culture funding. The return on that investment? $143 million back to the city. That's $29.17 back into our community for every $1 invested.
But what does funding for arts and culture actually mean? Who does it serve? What is its primary purpose?
The most immediate observation of arts and culture may look like a painting on a wall, a string quartet tuning up, a historical exhibit or that singing and dancing I mentioned earlier. But as we peel back the curtains, we're exposed to a community infrastructure that's driving quality of life, economic impact, community safety, the advancement of critical skills and development of our youth, and the creation and sustainability of jobs. This is happening in our own backyards.
Arts and culture are a community catalyst, and I have come to think of their impact as a ripple effect. Their impact begins at the most basic level: they give people a reason to participate. And when people participate, things begin to happen: a performance, exhibition, festival, class or community event brings people out of their homes and into shared spaces. They spend time in the community, visit local businesses, volunteer, meet their neighbors, learn something new and become more connected to the place where they live. None of those actions may seem transformative on their own, but together they begin to create something much larger.
Follow those individual actions far enough and you begin to see how those ripples expand. Participation creates activity; activity generates local spending; local spending supports businesses and jobs. Exposure creates curiosity; curiosity creates opportunities to learn; learning builds skills, confidence and creativity; critical skill development empowers and equips our future community leaders. Participation creates connection; connection creates belonging; belonging encourages people to volunteer, contribute and take greater ownership of their community.
These ripples ultimately reach the same shore: a community that is more connected, more economically active, more engaged and ultimately more vibrant.
Supporting arts and culture in your community is about supporting the very humanity of your community, and if we continue to champion its broad impacts, we'll continue to make waves on the local, regional and national stage.
Bradley Akers
Executive Director, Players by the Sea
