{"id":1230,"date":"2018-10-22T14:39:23","date_gmt":"2018-10-22T21:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/?p=1230"},"modified":"2018-10-22T14:43:19","modified_gmt":"2018-10-22T21:43:19","slug":"the-impact-of-art-on-a-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/2018\/10\/the-impact-of-art-on-a-community\/","title":{"rendered":"The Impact of Art on a Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe arts empower. The arts give a voice to the voiceless. The arts help\u00a0<\/i>transform<\/i>\u00a0American communities and, as I often say, the result can be a better child, a better town, a better nation and certainly a better world. Let\u2019s champion our arts action heroes, emulate them and make our communities everything we want them to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

~ Robert L. Lynch, President,\u00a0<\/i>Americans for the Arts<\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspiring words from a leader of an organization whose mission is\u00a0advancing arts and arts education in America.\u00a0I believe these words to be true. Art can change a community\u2014the world\u2014for the better. I believe it, because I\u2019ve seen it in our own community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And research backs up the claim too. A\u00a02002 Princeton University study<\/a>\u00a0reveals that there is a measurable impact that the arts pose on communities.\u00a0The study showed a correlation between strong arts participation and presence, and prosperity in a community, economically, socially and individually.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
“Milky Way” art installation at the roundabout at Mt. Washington Dr. & Shevlin Park Road<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The\u00a0<\/b>Economic Impact<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just go to any\u00a0concert at\u00a0Les Schwab Amphitheater<\/a>\u00a0in the summertime\u00a0to see evidence of an economic impact of art in Bend.\u00a0It\u2019s not surprising that when a community\u2019s arts offerings increase, tourism\u00a0tends to follow. We are in a strong tourism town that boasts a lot\u00a0of outdoor adventure. But tourists\u00a0also\u00a0come for the concerts, theater, festivals, galleries\u00a0and other offerings that showcase the talents of a variety of local, regional and national artists.\u00a0Visit Bend even offers visitors\u00a0a\u00a0\u201cRoundabout Art Tour\u201d<\/a>\u00a0of our\u00a0growing collection of public art.\u00a0And while recreational tourism typically relies on Mother Nature, arts tourism can happen\u00a0virtually year-round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Take\u00a0\u201cTenth Month\u201d<\/a>\u00a0as an example. October is\u00a0in \u201cshoulder season\u201d, straddling the boom months of summer and\u00a0snow sports of winter. And,\u00a0it\u2019s also when a lot of great celebration of ideas, art and innovation occurs, bringing thousands of visitors to Bend at a normally slow time of year.\u00a0I have many friends who travel from other places just to attend the\u00a0BendFilm Festival<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Art also attracts more residents to our area, attracting more businesses.\u00a0And before you bemoan that fact (I\u2019m looking at you, locals),\u00a0remember that\u00a0growth has a positive economic impact on our community\u00a0and leads to more investment and stability.\u00a0Art provides a greater quality of life for residents, and leads to a more diverse, creative community.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/b>Social Impact<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Art naturally draws people together\u2014people that might not necessarily interact with each other otherwise.\u00a0I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only one who\u2019s witnessed a variety of people\u00a0at\u00a0a park\u00a0concert\u00a0dancing together, spanning from age 2-82, and loving every minute of it. Art is a powerful tool of building community\u00a0in a safe, approachable environment.\u00a0And in recent years, I\u2019ve seen more and more of this happening throughout Bend, from large venues to small coffee shops\u00a0and breweries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We all have a variety of interests, different cultures and backgrounds, a\u00a0breadth\u00a0of experiences. But when a performance, book reading, gallery\u00a0opening, or film screening brings us together, we\u00a0find that we\u00a0are more alike than different. It\u2019s an important reinforcement during times when our country is more divisive than ever.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/b>Individual Impact<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As\u00a0a longtime supporter of\u00a0Caldera<\/a>, an arts organization aimed at\u00a0underserved youth in Oregon, I\u2019ve seen\u00a0first-hand\u00a0how art can\u00a0ignite self-expression and\u00a0transform an individual\u00a0and the way they interact with their\u00a0community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research suggests that arts impacts an individual in three specific ways: psychologically, physiologically and creatively.\u00a0The psychological effects of observing and participating in the arts\u00a0are\u00a0increased\u00a0happiness and life satisfaction, along with a greater sense of self-esteem and control over one\u2019s own life.\u00a0Physiologically, the social bonds made through the arts decrease depression and stress, both shown to impact physical health. Finally, the arts increase creativity and skill level, especially in those who participate. Those who\u00a0observe tend to gain \u201ccultural capital\u201d\u2014in other words, they become cultured.\u00a0And who doesn\u2019t want to be a little more cultured?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bend\u2014An Arts Mecca<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
High Desert Chamber Music Quartet performs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you stop to think of\u00a0all\u00a0the amazing arts\u00a0organizations and\u00a0initiatives going on in Bend, and Central Oregon\u20142nd\u00a0Street Theater<\/a>,\u00a0BEAT<\/a>,\u00a0CO Symphony<\/a>,\u00a0High Desert Chamber Music<\/a>,\u00a0Art in the High Desert<\/a>,\u00a0Sisters Folk Festival<\/a>,\u00a0BendFilm<\/a>,\u00a0Scalehouse<\/a>,\u00a0Tower Theatre<\/a>,\u00a0The Art Station<\/a>,\u00a0Bend Art Center,\u00a0and I could go on\u2014it\u2019s pretty impressive for a city of our size.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our leaders have recognized the importance art has on our economy, which led to the\u00a0Bend Cultural Tourism Fund<\/a>\u00a0which supplies grants from a portion of room tax monies collected, to\u00a0support arts and culture programs that drive tourism.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bend recently selected\u00a0its\u00a0first creative Laureate, a 2-year position with a mandate to serve as liaison between the community and artists in the region (congratulations\u00a0Jason Graham, aka\u00a0MOsley\u00a0WOtta<\/a>!).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We may not have a performing arts center\u00a0(yet), but with a growing appetite\u00a0for arts\u00a0and now a 4-year university,\u00a0I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if\u00a0we have one in the next\u00a0few\u00a0decades.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
The Brooks Resources team accepts an award from the Americans for the Arts in 2014 in New York City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, I\u2019m proud to be a part of a company that values\u00a0and financially supports the arts.\u00a0From being a founding sponsor of BendFilm and Cascade Festival of Music, to\u00a0matching dollars to invest in public art, Brooks\u00a0Resources\u00a0has\u00a0long given generously to our arts community and is a leader in supporting a dynamic and diverse arts scene in Bend.\u00a0In fact, I was honored to help accept an award\u00a0in 2014\u00a0on behalf of Brooks\u00a0Resources\u00a0from the Americans for the Arts,\u00a0as one of the\u00a0Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Romy Mortensen,Vice President of Sales & Marketing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Romy has been with Brooks Resources for over 25 years. After graduating from the University of Oregon, School of Journalism, she started her career with the company as the administrative assistant to the general manager at Mount Bachelor Village. In 1996 she began working as the marketing coordinator at the corporate office, then was promoted to Director of Marketing shortly thereafter. She now serves as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, overseeing all aspects of sales and marketing for each Brooks Resources project. In 2004 she was named project manager for North Rim and in 2013 became project manager for The Tree Farm. Romy is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Oregon.<\/p>\n

Having a passion for civic engagement and connecting people, Romy serves on the boards of the Oregon Community Foundation, High Desert Museum, and Art in Public Places. She is chair of the Oregon Community Foundation Leadership Council of Central Oregon, and serves on the Advisory Board for The Bloom Project, of which she was a founding board member. This past year Romy concluded a nine year term as a board director for Oregon Public Broadcasting and continues to serve as a Central Oregon Ambassador.\u00a0 An Oregonian, avid outdoors enthusiast and animal lover, Romy and her husband are parents to two pitbulls and take full advantage of the recreation Central Oregon has to offer.<\/p>\n

Romy is a Leadership Bend alumna, Class of 2000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe arts empower. The arts give a voice to the voiceless. The arts help\u00a0transform\u00a0American communities and, as I often say, the result can be a better child, a better town, a better nation and certainly a better world. Let\u2019s champion our arts action heroes, emulate them and make our communities everything we want them to […]\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1234,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"xn-wppe-expiration":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-action":[],"xn-wppe-expiration-prefix":[]},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1230"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1230"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1239,"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1230\/revisions\/1239"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brooksresources.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}