Agenda - 08-19-2008 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 1 It would include at least one stage for theater and oratory and a place where acting 2 troupes could hold rehearsals. There would be classroom space for lectures and other forms of 3 cultural education. 4 Yes, this is a dream, but without this dream, we become a cultural wasteland. Alas, we 5 live in an era in which the arts are not only woefully and embarrassingly under - funded, but 6 increasingly ignored and debased in both our schools and our daily lives. 7 There is talk that the Whiffed Building is being considered for office space, but office 8 space can go virtually anywhere. However, with its large auditorium and plethora of rooms, the 9 Whitted Building is an ideal, ready -made building for a center that could provide our extended 10 community with the cultural resources it so desperately needs. 11 Thank you for your time and consideration." 12 Gordon Jameson read a prepared statement: 13 "I'm an artist living in Hillsborough. I'm on the board of the Orange County Artists Guild, 14 which has 119 artist members. and holds the popular Open Studio Tour every November. I am 15 also on the board of Arts Advocates, a small group working to establish a non - profit, 16 professionally -run gallery to promote Orange County visual artists. In addition, for six years, 17 from 2000 to 2007, 1 served on the Orange County Arts Commission Board and was Chair for 18 two of those years. 19 20 Mission of Culture Zone: 21 22 Right now I am Chair of a new arts organization called Carolina Culture Zone. The 23 mission of Culture Zone is to promote the corridor encompassing Hillsborough, Carrboro, 24 Chapel Hill, and Pittsboro as a premier arts destination. In order to market the area to a 25 regional and national audience there must be synergy between the partners — the arts 26 organizations, the business sector and local governments. Culture Zone seeks to bring these 27 entities together for our mutual benefit and to better serve our growing population. A cultural 28 center in Hillsborough would be a welcome addition to broad vision of making Orange and 29 Chatham County a destination for the cultural tourist. 30 31 Benefit of our cultural assets: 32 33 There is a wealth of cultural capital in our community. Over 1,400 artists of all kinds are 34 listed in the Orange County Arts Commissioner's database. We have painter, photographers, 35 film- makers, poets, writers, musicians, dancers, fine craft artists. We have an opera company 36 specializing in American opera, a distinguished pottery industry, and a number of nationally 37 known artists. We also have valuable historic buildings and sites in the area that are often 38 open to the public and require the support of the community. 39 Appreciation to these cultural assets has a significant economic impact on Orange 40 County. According to the Orange County Office of Economic Development, total visitor 41 spending in the county was $127.2 million in 2007. A study by Regional Technologies 42 Strategies last year found that of all the factors with potential influence on the level of 43 expenditures by tourists, ONLY the percentage of arts and design workers was found to have a 44 significant positive impact. Arts and historical attractions help to express what is different about 45 our area. Visitors come here looking for authenticity, for the character of a place, for unique 46 attractions. A vibrant cultural center would act as a magnet for visitors. 47 48 Needs of artists and performers, building use: 49