For Arts Sake Take Two
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announces the Mayor's Initiative "For Art's Sake"

Last month, many of us heard about the secrets to maintaining a healthy arts organization from Michael Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As a follow up to that session, local Art leaders were invited to join the Mayor who launched the Mayor’s initiative “For Art’s Sake”.

Despite tough times, the spirit of the art community is thriving. People are coming together to collaborate, plan, and innovate.

Exciting things are on the horizon. Mayor Johnson has just announced his official launch of an arts initiative and we are excited to have an advocate in office, who fully understands the impact of the arts on community, education, business and quality of life. Central to the initiative was his announcement that Sharon Gerber has been selected as his arts liaison.

The arts, humanities, and museums are critical to the quality of life and livability of America's cities. It has been shown that the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates over $166 billion in economic activity annually, supports over 5.7 million full time jobs, and returns over $12 billion in federal income taxes annually. Governments which support the arts on average see a return on investment of over $7 in taxes for every $1 that the government appropriates.

"I think it's going to really elevate Sacramento's visibility as a cultural destination," said Michelle Alexander, executive director of the Arts & Business Council of Sacramento. "Cultural tourism is a big, key factor in economic health." More than one hundred people attended and shared the things the city should be looking to do to support the arts.