Resolution No. 4474 - Laserfiche WebLink

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n n". I n 11 '} 1, GOAL IV: ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF ARTISTS AND ARTS GROUPS TO THRIVE ARTISTICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY IN THE EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD AREA Professional artists and artistic organizations, and those that are striving for professional accomplishment, are essential compo- nents of our community. They preserve our cultural heritage and future, help build a national reputation for Eugene-Springfield as an arts center and further enhance the education of our citizens. A climate in which artists and arts groups are encouraged to reach for excellence and enhance the life in our community is vital. It is to the mutual benefit of non-profit arts organizations, public agencies, businesses and individuals to find appropriate ways in which to provide this community support. Many artists are drawn to Eugene-Springfield because it has a reasonable cost of living and is an inspiring place to live and work. However, frequendy artists put their creative pursuits on hold to work at non-arts jobs in order to pay the bills.* II ~l , i i j " 1 ~ J ~ 1 f I i : 1 <, l * In the same way, although professional arts groups earned an amazingly high 70 percent of their income through ticket sales during the 1993-94 season, they still face cutbacks or closure due to rising production costs and stabilized or decreasing private contributions and public funding. For instance, only 17 percent of these groups' incomes currently come from individu- als, corporations and foundations, and only nine percent comes from the public sector (NEA, OAC and City of Eugene room tax funds.) oj j KEY RECOMMENDATIONS Continue and enhance the existing level of public and private monetary support for arts groups in Eugen.e- Springfield Crucial to the existence of arts organi- zations in our community are the resources - both monetary and in- kind - they receive from area busi- nesses, public agencies and govern- ment. The importance of ongoing support for the arts cannot be over- emphasized. With growing demands from other existing and new priorities, the arts must become an active partner of the business community. This will help ensure at least a continuance of the current level of support and establish a base for future growth. Encourage commi~oDS, purchase programs and stipends for artists Commissioning. purchase programs and awards will create additional funding and recognition for individual artists. This will result in an increase in the availability of original artwork to the public and the enhancement of public spaces. Developers - both civic and private - should make every effort to feature original art. ( continued) 15