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2 <br /> 1 Gayanne Chambliss said she echoed Beverly Stephens' sentiments. <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Janet Kagan read the following written comments: <br /> 4 1 have been an arts patron and arts professional for almost four decades and a resident of <br /> 5 Orange County for almost half of that. I am here tonight to ask you to facilitate your <br /> 6 commitment to make Orange County as artist-centric as your website promotion claims, which <br /> 7 states: Our cultural environment is a big part of why Orange County is special. Our "cultural <br /> 8 environment" is not just a recognition of our shared physical, social, and economic history but <br /> 9 also the footprint of the future legacy that follows us. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 In June 2012, Americans for the Arts- a national research, policy, and advocacy organization- <br /> 12 issued their report "Arts Impact in Orange County." This is one of the most comprehensive <br /> 13 economic impact studies of the arts ever conducted in the US. Their research revealed that the <br /> 14 County's nonprofit arts and culture enterprises generate $85.4 million in economic activity, <br /> 15 support 3,352 jobs, and return $8 million in revenue to local and state government. Specifically, <br /> 16 artists arts organizations, and allied design-production businesses spent $63.9 million in the <br /> 17 County during fiscal year 2010, which was enhanced by another $21.5 million in related <br /> 18 spending by their patrons. This type of arts spending evokes a significant multiplier effect: <br /> 19 organizations pay employees, purchase supplies, contract for services, and acquire assets <br /> 20 within their community. Furthermore, cultural residents and visitors do not hesitate to spend <br /> 21 money on the arts. All of us benefit from this! <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Let's not forget that artists are entrepreneurs and business owners. On Monday, the National <br /> 24 Endowment for the Arts released new data on Arts Employment. 61 percent of artists are <br /> 25 considered "self-employed" compared to 10 percent of all American workers. They note that <br /> 26 artists are also better educated than the overall labor force; their research found that 65 percent <br /> 27 of professional artists held a bachelors degree or higher, compared to 32 percent of all US <br /> 28 workers. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 These types of consumptions and contributions cannot be sustained or grown by the annual <br /> 31 Orange County Open Studio tours, backyard artist workshops, street festivals, and weekend <br /> 32 cultural events. And creative entrepreneurs- especially those in their 20's and 30's — have <br /> 33 ambition and mobility. They are not satisfied with a garden studio; they seek camaraderie, <br /> 34 innovation, and community. Although I am hardly 25 years old (though I often feel like it) 1 <br /> 35 would jump at the opportunity to build an artisan center in rural Orange County. Current zoning <br /> 36 prohibits this initiative, so I may need to look elsewhere. The Federal government and private <br /> 37 philanthropy are working in sync and poised to invest in these types of projects. But not for <br /> 38 long. They follow demographic and when projects such as mine- or others —elect to located in <br /> 39 distressed urban areas, Orange County loses these resources. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 1 hope you will instruct your planning staff to explore how creative artist and designers can work <br /> 42 in rural Orange County thereby truly making it a culturally vibrant hub. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Commissioner McKee arrived at 6:09 PM <br /> 45 <br /> 46 Chair Jacobs said there have been efforts recently to help artists work together as a <br /> 47 home occupation in Orange County or as cooperatives. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 Judith Ernst said she is a ceramic artist who lives in Chapel Hill. She read the following: <br />