Resolution No. 4474 - Laserfiche WebLink

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'] i n n "Pirst, we need the arts to n express IDEAS and feelings in ways beyond 11 fl. I words. Second, we need the arts to stir CREATIVITY and enrich a child's ways of n knowing. 71iinf, we need the II j j arts to INTEGRATE the fragments of academic life. '1 ~I Pourt/i, we need the arts to n EMPOWER the disabled. And, a60ve a{f, we need the . 1 arts to create COMMUNITY and to build connections across the generations. Learning in the arts truly is lifelong, and it is a deeply satisfying journey:" Dr. Ernest 1. Boyer, President, The Carnegie Foundation e may have more need for the arts in our society now than ever before. Yet this need is coming at a time of fmancial constraint and concern about other community issues that are perceived to be more important. More than ever, we need to recog- nize the potential for the arts to help prevent activities such as gang behavior, crime, and drug abuse, rather than putting more of our scarce resources into crisis management. The arts celebrate diversity and teach acceptance and respect, crucial qualities as society continues to change and our community becomes more diverse. The arts teach problem-solving skills and self- discipline to our children, and can inspire them to stay in school and succeed. By developing a strong commitment to the arts by schools, government, private businesses and families, the citizens of Eugene- Springfield will be provided more and better opportunities to enrich their personal lives. It is the opinion of the ArtsPlan participants that if measures are not taken within the next few years, the artistic activities we currently enjoy will start to deteriorate. Our excellent performing arts center and university art museum are atypical in cities our size and of our eco- nomic profile. We have managed to create an area rich in artistic diver- sity with a tremendous inventory of highly-talented and nationally- recognized artists and arts groups. We must build on what we have and the successes we have achieved. The fundamental way to accomplish this is to increase the involvement of area citizens in the arts. The more that people partici- pate in and understand the arts, the more they will insist on living in a community which has a rich artistic profile. For these reasons, the ArtsPlan Committee strongly encourages that the community's attention and energy be targeted to the recommendations detailed in this plan.