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