Arts in the Wood River Valley are more than form, line, color and performance. They're very big business, and the results from a recent economic study leave little doubt about that.
The Wood River Arts Alliance held its second economic summit, "Arts and The Cities Meeting," at the nexStage Theater in Ketchum on Thursday, Oct. 4, for more than 30 who represented the arts community in the valley.
Independent artists, art supporters, arts organizations, mayors and several media representatives listened as Sam Gappmayer, executive director of the Sun Valley for the Arts, present the Americans for the Arts "Arts and Economic Prosperity III Study" findings in the Wood River Valley.
The study specifically focused on non-profit arts and culture organizations and their economic impact on the valley, which generated $6.18 million, 161 full-time jobs and $471,000 in local and state government revenue in 2005. The figure takes into account monies spent by residents and non-residents on meals before and after events, refreshments and snacks, overnight lodging, child care, ground transportation, clothing and accessories, souvenirs and gifts.
The Wood River Valley region was one of 156 communities that participated in the study. The study used four economic measures to define economic impact. They included full-time equivalent jobs, resident household income, and local and state government revenues in communities with populations less than 50,000. The study did not break down the economic impact by particular arts disciplines.
"This is a 24 percent increase in five years," Gappmayer said.
The presentation included a panel with Sun Valley Mayor Jon Thorson, Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall, Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant, Wood River Arts Alliance Chair Claudia McCain and Treasurer Hilarie Neely of Footlight Dance.
"This is great information for us to be able to go forward," said meeting facilitator state Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum. "Arts mean more than just arts education in schools."
Company of Fools Managing Director R.L. Rowsey said people can change the ugly term of "slack" and offered that leaders in the arts community need to promote the entire community. The success of last weekend's Kick Ash Bash and the community rally to save the nexStage Theatre are examples of how city groups can work together.
"The arts serve as a vital part of the attraction to the community," Thorson said. "We are ready for action. We don't need to talk anymore. We need action."
The alliance serves as an umbrella organization for the valley's arts community, including art commissions in Hailey and Ketchum, which is in the process of appointing members.
Aside from praise and acknowledgement of the valley's successes, the discussion included ways and ideas to increase the economic benefits of arts in the valley.
"I strongly believe the arts are a part of our quality of life," Hall said.
Susan Ward of Boulder Mountain Clayworks, which recently turned to non-profit status, brought up the notion of a "one percent for art" ordinance. Such ordinances give 1 percent of funds from public building construction to an art project within the building. There are Idaho cities such as Jerome, Idaho Falls and McCall that have adopted such ordinances.
The discussion about the concept eventually made its way around to the idea of establishing an ordinance that would help enable private businesses to more easily support public art.
Jaquet pointed out that the idea of such legislation would have to go in front of Blaine County's city councils, and seeking approval could be difficult.
Wood River Arts Alliance members beam from the results of a positive economic study on arts in the valley. From left to right are state Rep. Wendy Jaquet, nexStage Theatre and Laughing Stock Productions Managing Director Kathy Wygle, Wood River Arts Alliance Treasurer Hilarie Neely, Sun Valley Center for the Arts Executive Director Sam Gappmayer and Wood River Arts Alliance Chair Claudia McCain.
Photo by David N. Seelig
