INC NEWS - Column: City cuts would hurt arts scene in Durham (Herald-Sun)

Wed Jun 4 20:29:27 EDT 2008

Although I fully support the arts and think it is one
of the most identifying thing about Durham, the bigger
way that we are cutting off our nose to spite our face
is that we are allowing relatively unchecked
development in rural and suburban Durham, of which
'mixed-use developments' are becoming quite popular.
This can only detract from prospective home buyers in
the city of Durham, where mixed use already exists --
and mixed use that constitutes a vibrant city rather
than a facade like Meadowmont (however pleasant it may
be). If people want to walk to the YMCA or bike to the
grocery store, they can do it simply by buying a house
in Durham. Admittedly that house may need to be
renovated, but the going price is an awful lot cheaper
than the >$300,000 'new' houses that they are stapling
together in South Durham.

Melissa

Melissa Rooney
mmr121570 at yahoo.com

--- Kelly Jarrett <kjj1 at duke.edu> wrote:

> Plus--wasn't there some study done recently about
> the key role that 
> vibrant arts & cultural life plays in attracting the
> "creative class" to 
> communities--precisely the class we're depending on
> to revitalize 
> downtown Durham. I recall that Durham scored very
> highly in this regard. 
> So just as downtown is poised for a genuine rebirth
> the city is going to 
> pull the plug on the very cultural institutions and
> organizations that 
> make Durham so attractive to the people we need to
> attract for this 
> rebirth? Cutting off our nose to spite our face????
> 
> Kelly J.
> 
> John Schelp wrote:
> > Column: City cuts would hurt arts scene in Durham
> > By Barker French & Josh Parker, Herald-Sun, 04
> June 2008
> >
> > The future of arts and culture in Durham is in
> trouble and we need your help. The fiscal year
> 2008-2009 budget for the City of Durham slashes
> funding for arts, cultural and youth programming.
> Durham's elected officials must hear from us now.
> They need to know that quality of life is important
> to all of us, and we need funding for the arts. 
> >
> > Durham is often recognized as a city with a
> vibrant creative economy and diverse cultural mix.
> Durham receives these accolades because of the many
> artists and organizations that call Durham home and
> work to provide original programming for its
> citizens. This year, due to budget cuts, many of the
> best-known and most-loved organizations will face
> scaling back, moving or shutting down. The dollar
> amount may not be huge relative to the total budget,
> but to these organizations, every dollar counts and
> leverages enormous positive impact for Durham
> citizens. 
> >
> > The Bull Durham Blues festival that attracts some
> of the greatest blues musicians in the world to
> Durham each year will likely be cancelled due to the
> 20 percent cut in funding. The Full Frame
> Documentary Film Festival's 30 percent funding cut
> will force it to evaluate program cuts. Likewise the
> African-American Dance Ensemble's local programming
> and touring will be gone, along with several
> dancers, thanks to its 100 percent cut. All this
> while each of these groups brings national and
> international acclaim and recognition to Durham.
> Recently, when receiving international dance's
> highest honor, the Capezio Award, Chuck Davis was
> commended for cultivating a local community of
> dancers into one of the world's premier touring
> dance companies. 
> >
> > The process for non-city agency funding was deeply
> flawed this year, and there appears to be a
> significant disconnect between the wants of the
> people and the actions of the city staff. The city
> is facing tough decisions this year. Rising fuel
> costs and a slowing economy mean some combination of
> budget cuts and higher taxes. 
> >
> > The zero-sum game being played by city staff
> threatens to undermine the fabric of what make
> Durham so great. Our elected officials pour millions
> of dollars into economic development projects
> because of their long term impact on the community.
> Arts and culture are no different. 
> >
> > The arts build the fabric of Durham's creative
> economy, improve educational outcomes and workforce
> development, improve quality of life, and provide
> programs that serve thousands of at-risk youth and
> adults in Durham. The arts help Durham recruit and
> retain businesses and residents. The arts are a
> major generator of tourism. The arts are a major
> tool in economic development and workforce
> development. The city's support of the arts is the
> truest form of a public-private partnership. We
> cannot stand by and let the numerous budget
> priorities crowd out arts and culture in Durham. 
> >
> > Also, the city and county governments have ignored
> requests to continue funding the Durham Cultural
> Master Plan. The citizens of Durham have invested
> more than $750,000 from the hotel occupancy tax over
> the last six years in coordinating and planning for
> our cultural future. Now, just as the plan is
> ramping up a 15-20 year implementation, the legs are
> cut out from under it. 
> >
> > All of the investment in planning for a Durham
> history museum, creating new educational outreach
> opportunities, exploring public art programs,
> building sustainable futures for arts organizations
> and other exciting initiatives will be for naught.
> The plan will simply go on the shelf and the chances
> of strengthening our arts and culture sector for the
> future will be lost. Not only are we being told to
> cut programs this year, we are being told there is
> no future hope, no real value placed on arts and
> culture in Durham anymore. 
> >
> > Leaders from many of Durham's fantastic arts
> organizations and the Durham Cultural Master Plan
> Advisory Board presented a request to elected
> officials asking them to: 
> >
> > -- Return non-city agency funding to fiscal
> 2007-2008 levels so that we don't lose any of our
> organizations this year. 
> >
> > -- Provide funding for the Cultural Master Plan so
> it moves forward with its implementation schedule. 
> >
> > -- Meet with arts leaders to examine the process
> for non-city agency funding and develop a path to
> sustainable growth in Durham. 
> >
> > Now is the time for leadership from elected
> officials. We are all working hard to make Durham a
> great place, and we need our elected officials to
> show, even when times get tight, we don't stop
> investing in what makes Durham so great. 
> >
> > We encourage you to show your support by
> contacting members of Durham City Council. You can
> email all of the council members at
> council at durhamnc.gov or call 560-4333. Tell them you
> support funding for the arts and culture in Durham. 
> >
> >
> > Barker French is chair of the Durham Cultural
> Master Plan Advisory Board. Josh Parker is a board
> member. This article was also signed by Chuck Watts,
> chair of the St. Joseph's Historic Foundation, Ellie
> Torre, board president of the Durham Arts Council,
> Judy Thomson, president of the Durham Symphony
> Orchestra, Kathy Silbiger, president, Mallarme
> Chamber Players, Chuck Davis, founder,
> African-American Dance Ensemble and Rebekah Meek,
> Bull City Headquarters.
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