Prescott 2050

Arts and Cultural Affairs Interim Report

Arts & Cultural Affairs Prescott 2050: Interim Report

Mission Statement

Prescott has the potential for developing more into a town that is known for its artistic events, artistic population and for the arts produced by that population. It is the mission of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Working Group to explore what the arts in Prescott could evolve into by the year 2050 and research new ways of increasing funding and making resources and services more readily available.  A definition for what the Arts and Cultural climate are presently in Prescott will be developed as a starting point for what will be needed to take them to where we believe they should be in the year 2050. 

Definition

Arts and Cultural Affairs encompasses an exploration of visual and performing arts, music, theater, dance, film, creative writing, and crafts and their evolution to the year 2050. 

Vision Statement

• The vision for 2050 provides for all the Arts thriving in Prescott because there is adequate funding available.
• In 2050, there will be an effective arts organization that is adequately funded, that coordinates and oversees funding and also has adequate representation for all artistic organizations as well as individual artists (PAAHC).
• In 2050 there will be an alliance between the hospitality businesses and the Art community.
• In 2050, the various art organizations as well as individual artists will move in one direction.  There will be a great deal of collaboration.  There will be a special fund for collaborative and public art projects.
• In 2050, there will be a prominent summer artistic culture in Prescott which will serve the community and also contribute to the coalition of tourism.
• In 2050, Grants will be available through established non-profit organizations.
• In 2050, there will be a theater in a beautiful setting, with gardens and outdoor gathering areas and with a viewing space for visual arts.
• In 2050, the Art community will be a major tourism draw and contribute to Prescott’s economic growth.
• In 2050, there will be a funding model in place for the Arts.
• By 2050, the Arts will help keep Prescott from becoming a “non-place” – the Prescott Town Square will continue to be a place that attracts tourists and locals families to enjoy the Arts.
• In 2050 there will be a professional symphony.
• In 2050 there will be a nationally recognized jazz festival.
• In 2050 all theaters will have a solid source of funding.
• In 2050 there will be a children’s theater program as an extension of the professional theater group.
• In 2050, Prescott will be enriched through the Arts.
• In 2050, the Arts will include Native American jewelry, musicians, the rodeo, Phippen, Smoki Museum, Tsunami on the Square, etc.
• In 2050 there will be a professional dance company.
• In 2050 there will be an award for the group that shows support to other art organizations – this will be awarded through the Arts & Humanities Council.
• In 2050 the Studio Tour will be an annual event.
• In 2050 there will be a nationally recognized contemporary art gallery with a permanent collection as well as rotating shows.
• In 2050, “Art in America” magazine will have listings representing Prescott.
• In 2050, there will be a performing arts center.
• In 2050, the Arts will be a tax generator for the City of Prescott.
• In 2050, there will be regularly scheduled gallery art walks.
• In 2050, there will be teaching venues for all types of the Arts.
• In 2050, The Scene will be expanded to include coverage of the Arts, including a fine arts critic’s column. 
• In 2050 there will be an artist’s community which includes living quarters, studios, galleries for show as well as retail, schools, etc.  The developer/owner would be provided tax benefits by the City of Prescott.
• In 2050 there will be an Art Kiosk in the square which contains neat & tidy advertisements for scheduled Prescott events.  This will be a location where visitors can go to see what is going on in Prescott.
• In 2050 Art programs will be geared toward Prescott’s youth, including poetry slams.  Prescott College and Yavapai College will be involved in these programs.
• In 2050 there will be numerous alcohol-free venues that are directed to families and the youth; there will be ample opportunities for teens, such as dances, battles of the bands, bowling, and bonfire gatherings.
• In 2050 there will be open-mike gatherings for music and poetry (Spoken Word).

Overview

Art is an intellectual activity.  People who pursue the Arts are generally well educated, good citizens with discretionary income – this is the type of citizen that Prescott wants to attract.  If The City of Prescott is not aggressive in developing and funding a comprehensive arts program, Prescott Valley will eclipse Prescott artistically – the City of Prescott must make this a priority. “Everybody’s Home Town” deserves Great Art.

Prescott’s existing vibrant culture draws prominent businesses to the community.
o Rodeo
o Musical events
o Dance
o Cowboy Artist of America
o Cowboy Poets
o Bluegrass Festival
o Native American events
o Sculpture
o Phippen – Memorial Day Weekend
o Tsunami on the Square
o Shakespeare Festival
o Art Walk
o Yavapai College venues
o Plays – both drama and musicals
o Visual Arts
o Mountain Artist Guild
o Granite Creek Folk Dancing
o Fall Arts Festival
o Studio Tour
o Sharlott Hall – authentic historic plays

Things that Prescott does not have:
o Professional theater company with own theater building
o Art shows, much like the Kennedy Center.
o Children’s theater
o Classes for future generations
o Chautauqua
o Poetry slams
o Film

Recommendations

• Palm Desert California and more locally, the cities of Flagstaff and Tempe AZ are excellent models regarding funding public art; Prescott has the potential for establishing a substantial Art Fund for arts projects; recommend that the City assess a fee of 1% of permitting fees of development projects be allocated to such a fund. 
• Affordable locations for Artists within the downtown area need to be developed.
• Use of existing buildings for artistic events including live theater and for display of work by local artists needs to become a reality.
• The development of a professional theater company with its own theater building that has viewing space for visual arts.
• A program for the development of “Home Grown Art” should be established in which local artists are encouraged to show their work locally as well as attract “outside” artists to Prescott.