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Kansas City Art Gallery News Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in Kansas City. |
Art Adds a Brighter Green to Missouri's Bottom Line KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com) - Non-profit arts and culture organizations generate $1.1 billion in statewide economic activity in Missouri, according to the results of a three-year study on the impact of the arts on the economy released today by the Missouri Arts Council (MAC). The MAC is a division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) The MAC contracted with Americans for the Arts to conduct the study to document the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Missouri. A total of 420 arts and cultural organizations throughout the state participated in the study, which mirrored national findings that the arts and cultural sector is an imperative part of the U.S. economy. "This survey was crucial in offering more hard evidence that the arts and culture industry, not only here in Missouri but nationwide, is a central component to a strong economy," said Beverly Strohmeyer, executive director of the Missouri Arts Council. Missouri nonprofit arts and cultural organizations supported 5,320 full-time equivalent jobs and generated $9.3 million in local and state government revenue. Arts and culture is playing a strong role in the current financial market and the progression towards economic recovery. Community-oriented events can be more affordable and are especially attractive in tight economic times. The survey determined that non-local attendees spend twice as much as local attendees ($40.19 vs. $19.53 on average) at arts and cultural events statewide, demonstrating that when a community attracts cultural tourists it harnesses significant economic rewards. ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Awards Announced KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com) - The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City Board of Directors has approved $6,350 in new ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Award funding for seven projects by local artists. Inspiration awards from the ArtsKC fund, a united arts fund, support projects by individual artists which assist with their overall professional growth in specific creative endeavors. This is the second of three rounds of Inspiration awards for the 2009 grant cycle. In the first round last spring, eight artists were awarded a combined total of $7,720. ArtsKC Fund Grants Director Paul Tyler commented, "For this round of proposals we saw an increase in strong applications for performing arts projects of various kinds, and we are proud to note that these Inspiration awards are investments in artists from a broad diversity of disciplines. We'd like to see this trend continue in the future-there are so many artists here doing quality work in so many different fields." Letters of inquiry from artists interested in applying for the third and final round of 2009 awards are due November 16, 2009. Visit www.ArtsKC.org for more details. Arts Council Awards $243,500 in Stimulus Funding Grants KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com) - The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City has announced grant awards of $243,500 to 16 arts organizations to support the preservation of jobs threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support due to the current economic downturn. The Arts Council was one of 19 local arts agencies nationwide to receive funds for regranting for salary support from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA). "We are grateful for the opportunity to help these organizations continue to provide arts education services and other vital programs to the community despite the economic challenges facing us all," said Arts Council President and CEO Harlan Brownlee. "These funds will help to ensure access to the arts for all area residents at a time when we need the arts the most in addition to providing a boost for the local economy." Including the grants announced by the Arts Council today, a total of 22 KC metro arts organizations have been awarded $386,450 in ARRA funds. The Arts Council grants are in addition to two grants directly from the NEA to the Kansas City Symphony and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre for $50,000 each. The Missouri Arts Council also has awarded ARRA funding to three local organizations: Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and Octarium, and the Kansas Arts Commission has funded the Kansas City Performing Music and Arts Association.   The Kansas City Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Kansas City area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 2007 - 2009 Moore Design Group. |
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