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001 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: August 21, 2012 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: Proclamation in Support of Arts & Economic Prosperity IV in Orange County <br /> DEPARTMENT: Economic Development -Arts PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> Commission <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proclamation In Support of Arts & Martha Shannon, 968-2011 <br /> Economic Prosperity IV <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation supporting Americans for the Arts' (AFTA) most recent <br /> national arts economic impact study entitled Arts & Economic Prosperity IV and its findings for <br /> Orange County <br /> BACKGROUND: The Orange County Arts Commission was one of the 182 study partners <br /> participating in this national study, the most comprehensive of its kind ever conducted. Arts & <br /> Economic Prosperity IV (AEP4) measured the economic impact of the arts nationally and in <br /> each of the 182 study locations. Financial data from fiscal year 2009-2010 was utilized. <br /> Despite the economic headwinds in 2010, the results are impressive. The national results were <br /> released to the public on June 8, 2012 at AFTA's national conference. Results for North <br /> Carolina were released on June 11, 2012; and Orange County's results were released on June <br /> 12, 2012. The findings from Arts & Economic Prosperity IV send a clear and welcome message <br /> — leaders who care about community vitality can feel good about choosing to invest in the arts. <br /> Arts & Economic Prosperity IV demonstrates that America's arts industry is not only resilient in <br /> times of economic uncertainty, but is also a key component to the nation's economic recovery <br /> and future prosperity. The study is a myth-buster — it alters the perception that the arts are <br /> luxuries worth supporting in prosperous times but hard to justify when the economy is struggling. <br /> This study also sends an important message that support for the arts does not come at the <br /> expense of economic development. Rather, arts and culture is an industry — one that supports <br /> jobs, generates government revenue, is the cornerstone of tourism and economic development, <br /> and drives a creativity-based economy. Locally, as well as nationally, the arts mean business. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County's total fee for the study ($4,500) was paid over several <br /> fiscal years utilizing both State ($1,400) and County ($3,100) funds. <br /> RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize <br /> the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br />