Guest Column: County's art movement will only get better

Guest Column: County's art movement will only get better



PHILIP MCDANIEL
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 10/14/07


On Oct. 2, the St. Johns Board of County Commissioners embraced and recognize the importance of the cultural arts as part of the our county's future. The County Commission voted 5-0 to designate the St. Johns Cultural Council as the county's official Local Arts Agency in recognition of the group's efforts to promote the arts county-wide.

You know how the Council on Aging advocates and serves the needs of our community's elders?

Well, think of the Cultural Council as the COA for the arts. We advocate and serve the needs of all our county's artists, arts organizations, art audiences, businesses, schools, tourists, and, well, any area of the county where the arts are concerned.

The National Endowment of the Arts defines a Local Arts Agency (LAA) as "an umbrella entity designated by the County Commission to serve the county arts and cultural constituencies."

More than 40 Florida counties already have such agencies. LAAs often serve as the "de facto" department of cultural affairs for small to mid-size counties across the state; they are also uniquely eligible for state arts funding.

Nationally, the arts are seen as engines for economic development.

A new report by Americans for the Arts shows that nationwide the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity annually, up 24 percent in the past five years. An expanded emphasis on the arts will contribute substantially to economic, cultural, and tourist development in St. Johns County.

The first step in helping to advance the arts is to get an understanding of what people want in the arts throughout the county.

In April, the Cultural Council hosted a regional arts assessment meeting for greater St. Augustine. Nearly 100 arts enthusiasts came together and identified their top arts priorities. Then, they ranked and voted for them. Results and details are posted on our Web site. The No. 1 priority was for the Cultural Council to ask to be recognized by the County Commission as the county's Local Arts Agency.

Last week, with the help of the commission, we checked off the first item on the list.

Meanwhile, we still need to hear from our neighbors to the north. To this end, we will host two more community meetings and are inviting the public to participate.

If you missed the April meeting, please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

On Oct. 20 and Nov. 10, the Cultural Council will hold two separate arts assessment meetings for Northwest St. Johns and Ponte Vedra Beach. This is a call to all artists, arts organizations, residents, parents, educators, businesses, and everyone interested in bringing more arts and culture to our county. Meet and network with other arts enthusiasts and lend your ideas so together we can help shape a new direction for arts throughout the county.

For event locations, times and details, call us at 826 4116 or visit us on the Web at www.stjohnsculturalcouncil.org.

The rapid growth in St. Johns County opens up many opportunities to develop the arts and culture countywide. We are eager to help residents envision and achieve arts goals. That's why we want to hear from everyone in St. Johns County.

Eventually, we hope this effort will evolve into a countywide strategic cultural arts plan.

Meanwhile, we want to bring you the latest and hottest arts happenings, wherever you live in the county.

When we say art, we mean all forms of arts, including dance, theater, film, literature, and all forms of visual and performing arts.

Visit our Web site and join the nearly 5,000 people in St. Johns County who are already signed up and enjoying our free weekly Arts and Entertainment newsletter.

If you have events and would like them posted, even better, let us know.

We encourage you to thank our five county commissioners (and the county administration and staff at the recreation department) for their decision to help bring us more arts.

Like the High School Musical song goes ... "We Are All in This Together."



Philip McDaniel is president of the St. Johns Cultural Council.


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