7659-02 Artists' Summit and Exhibit

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RESOLUTION NO: 7659-02 BY: Corrigan, Dunn, FitzGerald, George, Roth, Seelie, Skindell. A RESOLUTION to convene an Artists' Summit and Exhibit on Wednesday, September 25, 2002 for the purpose of promoting and supporting artists and cultural institutions in Lakewood, underscoring the importance of the arts to this community and our local economy, and to further develop, define and encourage public-private partnerships and strategies that will promote the objectives as set forth herein. WHEREAS, there is great depth, diversity and excellence in the cultural, visual and performing arts throughout Northeast Ohio and Lakewood in particular; and WHEREAS, civic support for arts and culture enhances the quality of life for a community and its residents and is a proven stimulus for local and regional economies, as detailed in a 1999 study by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture that found that arts and cultural organizations in Cuyahoga and six other'nearby counties generate $1.3 billion in economic activity annually; and WHEREAS, this Council, recognizing that Lakewood benefits from numerous civic and cultural institutions and organizations including the Lakewood Arts Coalition, the Beck Center for the Arts, the Lakewood Arts Festival, Virginia Marti College of Fashion and Design, Lakewood Public Library, Lakewood Public Schools and numerous artists, artisans and patrons of the arts, acknowledges the importance to this community of fostering cultural and artistic exchanges and opportunities for all artists and citizens in Lakewood; and WHEREAS, access to the arts should be further expanded through continued development of arts fairs and festivals, expansion of arts and cultural events in parks and civic centers and expansion and creation of portable arts and cultural programs; and WHEREAS, access to the arts can be further expanded through the use of public transportation by routing such transportation to arts and cultural events, providing arts and culture information in public transit vehicles, and expanding and developing public transit cultural programs; and WHEREAS, cultural education collaborations should be developed by: building web sites and distance learning programs that link artists, organizations, teachers and learners; assisting artists and organizations to promote their educational programs and services and trade shows that highlight artists' efforts; supporting professional development institutes for arts educators, artists and classroom teachers; and creating professional development fellowships; and WHEREAS, arts and cultural "think tanks" should be created to conduct exchanges between cultural and ciwc organizations, artists and their communities, established and emerging cultural organizations, and individual artists and organizations; and WHEREAS, more public and private sector leaders should be recruited to serve in the cultural sector; and WHEREAS, accountable public sector investment in arts and culture should be established by collaborating with other local gnvemments and county, state and federal