Time and again it has been proven in practice that the Arts have a direct and positive effect on a communities' economic well being and pride of place. For example, without it's Theatre and Museums, New York would be just another backwater. OK, that is an extreme example. Let's take a step back and try again. What is the value of Public Art? What effect does Public Art have on a community? Is it the value of the work itself or the value of the effect on the community that's important? Think about this scenario. Suppose, one day, you find yourself nervously walking through a blighted neighborhood of a community with which you are not familiar. Suddenly you come upon a trash filled vacant lot, in the middle of which stands a large and breathtakingly beautiful sculpture. You stop and stare. For a moment you forget where you are and just look at this unexpected piece of beauty. You then notice an old newspaper has wedged itself in the sculpture and you move forward and remove it. Not wanting to throw the old newspaper down, you continue to hold it until you find a trash container. You have just performed the second step of community improvement. The first was the placement of the piece of sculpture. You pull out your cell phone and call a friend to come and see this piece of art in a wasteland. What has just happened here? That piece of art gave an artist a payday. He spent the money on food, clothing, rent and maybe a meal at a local restaurant. The art increased the value of the real estate to you (remember the newspaper you picked up?) It built citizens pride of place (remember the newspaper?) It increased tourism (you called a friend) So many people started to show up, you and your friend opened a taco stand to feed them and you hired locally! All this happened because a Public Arts Committee saw fit to enhance it's community by placing that piece of art where it was needed. Now tell me there is no connection between art and economic development.
To get a little more serious for a moment, I will let you in on a little secret. Municipalities' Public Arts Programs, Public Arts Committees (all volunteer) and Public Art Ordinances are all coming under increasing attack and Tarpon Springs is not immune to those accusations of' 'irrelevance and money wasting missions to exhibit art in public places.' Art, in this country, puts $200 billion dollars annually into our nations' economy. Public Art and the encouragement of art makes perfect financial sense for the, admittedly, simplified reasons given above. Tarpon Springs needs a strong Public Arts Ordinance, supported by a unanimous yes vote from those elected by the people to continue our tradition of pride of place and to firmly state our appreciation of our local artists and the beauty with which they surround us. We could do worse.
