Do The Arts Matter?

6:00am | Our City has a unique and valuable resource, one that drives economic growth, improves public safety, improves test scores for our children, increases tourism, attracts new business, and even helps property values.  Much has been said about the power of Arts and Culture to raise the quality of life in any City but, for Long Beach, it comes down to you.  Do you think the Arts matter? 

The Arts Council for Long Beach, in cooperation with the City of Long Beach Economic & Cultural Affairs Bureau, has started to revise and update the Long Beach Community Cultural Plan, first created back in 1996.  Starting in October of 2008, it soon became clear that the resources most critical to an effective revision lay in the insights, experiences, and values of the City’s residents: You. 

In addition to reaching out to many individual artists, community groups, and local organizations, the Task Force assigned to create the revised Master Plan has developed a brief set of questions, available on-line, to help you share your insights, and have them included in the development of the plan. 

In March, the City Council voted unanimously to include the revised Cultural Plan in the City’s 2030 Plan, which will serve as an important municipal policy guide.  This decision solidifies the impact your participation will have on the City’s future. 

So, I urge you to take a few moments, visit the ‘Create Long Beach‘ page on the Arts Council for Long Beach website, and take the survey.  Your answers will help answer the question: Do the Arts matter?