Our Mission and Commitment

The mission of the Arts Alliance is to support efforts to increase participation in arts and cultural activities, and strengthen the cultural community and organizations that provide these programs, thereby ensuring that all citizens benefit from our outstanding cultural resources.

The Arts Alliance works to create an environment in Washtenaw County where creativity and culture can flourish and the arts are accessible to all.

To realize its mission, the Arts Alliance is committed to support/create projects and services that Communicate - Facilitate - Educate - Advocate - and Celebrate the arts and its community!

Washtenaw County Cultural Master Plan gives strategic vision to arts and cultural sector. Six strategic areas identified from the input of nearly 5,000 county residents

(Ann Arbor, MI…Oct. 28, 2008) The Arts Alliance released the Washtenaw County Cultural Master Plan, a strategic vision of the future that includes 34 actions to be implemented over a 5-year period. The Washtenaw County Cultural Master Plan, a result of an 18-month community-based planning effort, emphasizes the participation and collaboration of cultural, educational, civic, business and government representatives from the entire county.

“The amount of community collaboration and engagement that was involved throughout this cultural plan process was impressive,” said Phil D’Anieri, Steering Committee Co-chair; and Program Director at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. “The dedication from all seven population centers throughout the Washtenaw County emphasizes the impact and importance of our region’s arts and cultural sector.”

Six strategic areas were identified from the direct input of nearly 5,000 residents with an online survey, an artists’ census, a study of the area’s creative economy, and in 29 interviews and community forums. The strategic areas identified were: Lifelong Arts & Education; Creative Economic Development; Capacity Building, Funding, and Investment; Communications, Audience Development, and Advocacy; Cultural Facilities; and Diversity and Access.

“The efforts that have been involved in coordinating and preparing the cultural plan have really united our region’s cultural community, and have gotten individual artists, arts and cultural organizations and creative businesses all thinking about the future well-being of this sector. The strategic areas identified in the plan provide a robust future vision for arts and culture in our communities,” said Deb Polich, Steering Committee Co-Chair; and President and CEO of Artrain USA. “Over the course of the next few months, we will be customizing the cultural plan for each community in the county, so that the plan can best suit their needs along with the needs of the county.”

Click here to view the cultural plan documents.

The Arts Alliance and Ann Arbor SPARK: Creative Economy is Important Regional Asset

(Ann Arbor, MI…Oct. 10, 2008) The Arts Alliance and Ann Arbor SPARK released two studies today that provide new insights into the size, scope and economic significance of the creative sector in Washtenaw County. The studies, Artists in Washtenaw County: The 2008 Artists’ Census Final Report produced by the Arts Alliance and Creative Economic Analysis produced by Ann Arbor SPARK, reveal the potential impact of the state’s new film industry tax incentives and the new eligibility of creative businesses for state MEGA tax credits, indicating that creativity is a competitive regional asset.

“The Arts Alliance is delighted that Ann Arbor SPARK chose to conduct this analysis to complement the self-reported data we collected through the Artists’ Census,” said Tamara Real, the organization’s President. “It places our information in context and reinforces the message that the creative sector is an important part of our economy as well as significant contributor to our community’s quality of place.”

“Quality of place is a key driver of economic development; the arts heavily influence a region’s ability to attract and retain knowledge-economy workers,” said Michael A. Finney, chief executive officer of Ann Arbor SPARK. “As the Ann Arbor region continues to compete for business, arts and culture will maintain a critical piece of the puzzle, a benefit that differentiates our region from others across the country.”

The Arts Alliance’s study provides the results of a voluntary census the organization conducted earlier this year. Ann Arbor SPARK’s report analyzes statistical data from the U.S. government to describe the creative economic sector as a whole.

2008 CANDIDATES' SURVEY ON ARTS AND CULTURE

This was the third year that the Arts Alliance conducted a survey of local candidates running for public office throughout Washtenaw County to learn their positions on arts and culture. Candidates were given two weeks to answer (2) questions:
1.  What is your position on public funding for arts and culture?
2. If elected, what measurable actions will you take to ensure that arts and cultural offerings survive and thrive in Washtenaw County?  Please be specific.

Candidates were contacted by email or mail (dependent on what personal information was posted on the Washtenaw County website); and of the 195 candidates contacted, The Arts Alliance received 48 responses. This represents a 25% response rate - the most responses the Arts Alliance has ever had to the survey.

37 Democratic, 10 Republican, and 1 Write-In candidate responded to the 2-question survey. Among the findings:
•           30 candidates (25 Democratic and 5 Republicans) or 64%, expressed support for public funding for the arts
•           17 candidates, 36%, referenced their personal involvement in arts and cultural activities in their responses
•           23% of respondents (11) cited the economic impact of arts and culture in their response
•           46% of respondents (22) indicated that arts and culture contributes positively to their community’s quality of life
•           The highest response rates to the survey were 48% of candidates for Washtenaw County Commissioner (11)

“We were delighted to have so many candidates respond about their views on arts and culture in our community,” said Tamara Real, Director. “Not only did we hear from more candidates than ever before, but more candidates provided specific measurable action steps to ensure arts and cultural offerings survive and thrive in our community this year.”
 
The Arts Alliance is a non-partisan organization that endorses no candidate running for office.
 
Don’t forget to vote on August 5, and feel free to share this report with everyone you know.

Click here to view the final candidates' responses. (.pdf)