Comments on: Could Charlotte Culture Eclipse Us?

By: Aneli Nugteren

Aneli Nugteren — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 18:35:49 +0000

As COO of Fernbank Museum I thought I would let you know that while we do get approximately 500,000 visitors to our institution, we do not get any public money from any “Arts and Science Council”. Zero, zip, nihl, null, nothing. Wish we did, but we do not get any public money other than a small amount (0.01%) from the State Department of Education which is invaluable, very much appreciated and perhaps what you were referring to in your blog. Thank you for your concern and your support of cultural institutions in the Southeast.

Aneli Nugteren, EVP & COO, Fernbank Museum of Natural History

By: BPJ

BPJ — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:04:51 +0000

Perhaps I could add some useful comments from the perspective of a board member of several small to mid-sized arts organizations. First, the big need is for annual contributions by INDIVIDUALS. This means YOU. Maybe you can only afford to give $25 a year to one theatre company; okay, then do that. And don’t think it doesn’t matter. Hundreds of people giving $100 a year or less starts to add up. Also, among the factors foundations and corporations look at in deciding who to donate to is breadth of support - meaning number of contributors.
If you work for a corporation, then your small donation matters even more, because many companies like to support organizations “which our employees support”. A small group of vocal supporters inside the same company, who donate to an arts organization, can persuade that company to give big bucks.
A major study a few years ago showed that metro Atlanta’s biggest relative shortcoming in supporting the arts is not in giving by corporations, foundations, or even government - it’s in giving by individuals that we rank quite low. All of us can do something about this!
Second, the comparisons between Atlanta and Charlotte are a bit misleading, for several reasons. They tend to have one big fund drive for the arts, while Atlanta’s giving is more varied. For comparison, you would have to add up not only the Fulton County Arts Council, the Atlanta BCA, the Woodruff Arts Center’s corporate campaign, and the Metro Atlanta Arts Fund, but also the annual grants by Atlanta-based foundations, ranging from the Woodruff Foundation to the Kendeda Fund. It is in this latter type of giving - by local foundations - that Atlanta has an advantage over other southeastern cities (I’m not counting Dallas or Houston).
As one who is trying to raise money for the arts here every week, the last thing I want to do is encourage complacency; but it is just as bad to wallow in unfounded despair. So let’s take a minute to compare the Atlanta and Charlotte arts scenes. For example, the music director of the Atlanta Symphony, the artistic director of the Alliance Theatre, or the director of the High Museum would have no interest in the corresponding jobs at the Charlotte Symphony, the Charlotte Rep, or the Mint Museum. In each case, for the Charlotte person to move here would be a step up (in the case of the two orchestras, it would be an unlikely step way up). Of course, that’s just the Woodruff Arts Center institutions. And there has been a tendency by some donors, especially corporate ones, to make their annual gift to the WAC and say that’s it for the arts this year. But I can tell you that this picture is changing over the past decade. The growth in the Metro Atlanta Arts Fund is one indicator.
Another point of comparison is the two cities’ theatre communities. Atlanta has one of the best theatre communities in the nation. The Theatre Communications Group (the umbrella organization for non-profit theatres) is holding its national meeting here in June. That’s a big deal. They meet in cities with a vibrant theatre scene (2005 was in Seattle). Charlotte is unlikely to be considered anytime soon.
Atlanta has a range of museums for a variety of interests. How many of you have visited the Carlos Museum, The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, MOCAGA, MODA, Eyedrum, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Hammonds House, or Oglethorpe? Atlanta’s art galleries and chamber music groups are the envy of any other southeastern city. And, as one of the above posts recognizes, the arts offerings at our universities are one of Atlanta’s major artistic strengths. (By the way, Atlanta’s greatest asset is not its airport, or its corporations; it is the concentration of colleges and universities. But that’s a subject for another day.)

By: Chad Magnussen

Chad Magnussen — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 18:38:25 +0000

Robert,

You definitely seem well-versed and knowledgeable. You’ve obviously done your homework with all of the statistics.

I’m more familiar with the Research Triangle area of North Carolina than Charlotte. When I think of Charlotte there are basically two images:

1. Insurance companies

2. Heritage USA ( Jim Bakker )

Insurance companies in Charlotte seem to a major player in the employment arena; so maybe that fact alone lends more funding for the arts. Networking is a lot easier if you are talking to the same people on a regular basis.

Atlanta’s employment base is much more diverse, so it’s more difficult to forge a common dialogue among the elite business leaders.

I’m just speculating, and I could be way, way, way off-base.

Another factor in the arts disparity between Charlotte and Atlanta could be the greater number of colleges and universities in Atlanta. The number of higher institutions of learning in Atlanta are easily in the double digits, and most of the colleges and universities here have broad and comprehensive programs fostering the arts. Many art exhibits, lectures, plays, musical artists, etc. have regularly scheduled ongoing campus events. Some exhibits, performances, etc. are in fact free.

Maybe some of the Atlanta business elite need to step up to the plate. Some billionaires are more charitable than others. I really have no idea as to the chariable generosity of Mr. Portman, the Cox family, Mr. Fuqua, Mr. Turner, and their ilk. I think the Cox family has a net worth of at least 10 billion.

I think Robert has hit the nail on the head when each county seems to be doing their own thing. I know at one time a DeKalb County resident could not check-out a book at a Fulton County library. I don’t know if that is still the case?

Chad

By: Larry Felton Johnson

Larry Felton Johnson — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 06:19:59 +0000

I don’t follow either funding for the arts or attendance at the venues very closely, but I’ve noticed there doesn’t seem to be a very close connection between the overall health of an urban fabric and the quality of destinations within the city. Birmingham AL has both my favorite nearby art museum (the exhibit of asian religious art — Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist, is fantastic) and my favorite botanical garden. But I don’t think overall that Birmingham has been a very good model for urban development.

By: Some Other Mike

Some Other Mike — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 19:11:17 +0000

Honestly, I feel the lack of current funding reflects an attitude that will negate any benefit from additional taxes.

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:45:45 +0000

Robert - very true post & something seriously worth considering. Not to mention other similarly sized cities such as Dallas & Houston have a greater funding source for the arts as well.

Used2live - not really understanding your post, but regarding ‘cohesive’, that is of course a no-brainer. Of course Charlotte, like any small city is more cohesive than a larger sized metro like Atlanta. Nonetheless, Charlotte does still have a greater civic minded community than Atlanta does now.

By: Used2live there

Used2live there — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:51:36 +0000

Charlotte is a more cohesive city than Atlanta.

Buckhead != Downtown culture.
Then if you look at the surrounding areas,
Gwinett != Dunwoody
Alpharetta != Jonesboro
Smyrna != Cobb Culture