What Funding Arts and Culture Can Do for Rural Communities may be the latest and most approachable story about the economic and human value of the arts―the story is in the style of a graphic novel (!)―but the subject is well considered.
Artists, rural advocates, government officials, and others have advocated for arts as community development and economic development for years. Consider:
- The Rebuilding Power of The Arts in Rural Communities
- What Makes Rural Art Parks Successful? Recommendations for CED Art Lovers
- Rural Prosperity Through the Arts & Creative Sector
- The Creative Sector: A Proven Economic Catalyst for Rural America
- Rural Arts Development
- Strengthening Rural Economies through the Arts (PDF)
It’s not as if the arts and interest in the arts is a foreign concept on the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. Westmoreland County has Colonial Beach’s Second Friday Art Walk and The Art of Coffee Bistro and Local Art Gallery. Northumberland County has Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern Heritage Arts Center and The Westmoreland Players Theatre. In Richmond County, you’ll find Oyster Shoals Music Hall. Lancaster County is home to The Lancaster Players and Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts. And then there’s Bay School Community Arts Center and River to Bay Artisan Trail on the Middle Peninsula.
But more can always be done. Will towns and counties do more on this aspect of economic development? Only time will tell. But given that it’s budget season, advocacy is always warranted.