Washington County Artist Study

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Washington County Artist Study

• Prepared by Renee Millburn, Rachel Kern, Robert
  Shawley, Brad Alexander and Nithin Shetty

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Key Findings

• Define who is an Artist?
• Understand an Artists wants/needs/challenges for
  success.
• To seek local artist impressions of the art
  scene in Washington County.
• Ways to improve the Art Scene
• Economic Impacts/Realities.
• Business Marketing and Connectivity.
• Artists vision for a flourishing Arts, Education
  and Entertainment District.
• Recommendations

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Methodology

• There were 2 surveys conducted.
• A 51 question Artist Survey sent out to existing
  professional Artists. 127 artists participated,
  89 completed the survey.
• Based on the National Artist population as
  determined from the Census data, it is estimated
  that there could be a potential of 1,170 artists
  in the Washington County area. With the time
  restraints to do this project, only 11 have been
  represented in this survey.
• A 10 question survey was administered to the
  Juniors and Seniors at Barbara Ingram School for
  the Arts.
• 83 Students participated 23 Theatre, 12 Visual
  Arts, 15 Dance, 21 Instrumental Music and 12
  Vocal

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Student Survey

• 49 students stated they plan to pursue their
  talent as a career but only 9 felt they could
  pursue it in Washington County with most of these
  wanting to be either a Teacher or Therapist
• Many reasons why were that there wasnt enough
  opportunity in Wash.Co. to pursue their talent as
  a career.
• There vision of an improved Art Scene
• Many wanted more Theatres in the area to be able
  to bring in bigger and better programs as well
  have more opportunities to showcase their own
  talents.

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Artist breakdown by Category
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My Talent is mainly used to
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How much time do you dedicate to your art each
week?
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How long have you been an artist producing art in
Washington County?
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What is your Age/Gender/Ethnicity?
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Challenges For Artists
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Additional Training desired
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Barriers to Training
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Possible Areas of Assistance
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Artist Event Participation
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Successful Events
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Washington County Arts Scene
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Washington County Arts Scene
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Washington County Arts Scene
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Washington County Arts Scene
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Washington County Arts Scene
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Washington County Arts Scene

• Artists See A Thriving Art Scene As
• A place where the community can come out to see
  performance and visual art at night and on the
  weekends
• A place where restaurants or other venues will
  cater to an arts crowd, i.e. local restaurants
  having an art gallery night

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Washington County Arts Scene

• Steps Artists Would take to Create A Thriving
  Arts Scene
• Market and promote events
• Cooperate with local business owners
• More downtown restaurants and coffee shops
• Extend downtown night and weekend hours
• More galleries to showcase art

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DC State Wide Arts Scene

• Arts and Entertainment Outstanding Achievement
  Award Winners
• Cumberland 2009 (Inaugural year)
• Frederick 2010
• Baltimores Station North 2011

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DC State Wide Arts Scene

• Alexandria, VA
• Del Ray Artisans
• Torpedo Factory

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National Arts Scene

• Majority of artists live in Metropolitan areas
• South Atlantic artist numbers in line with
  national average
• Designers top the artists count, with Architects
  at a distant second

Source NEA Study Artists in Workforce 2005
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National Arts Scene

• Nationwide Trends to help Artists
• Revitalize downtown with special zoning laws
  Older/historic buildings given to artists to
  rebuild/renovate with local financing from banks
• Artist Awareness with place markers and local
  fests
• Artists Relocation Programs ie. Paducah KY has a
  successful program
• Healthy environment needs to be created to
  generate tourisms/art sales

Source NEA Study Artists in Workforce 2005
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Economic Realities

• Recession hard on artists, since 2/3rd of them
  make less than 40,000 and have two jobs .
• Grants/Opportunities to showcase work/Networking
  are top resources artists are looking for.

Source LINC National Survey 2009
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Artists Space Needs

• Artist Space Development (ASD)
• Physical Impacts
• Social Impacts
• Economic Impacts
• National Findings point to a trend of artists
  looking for living/workspace, and lots of
  communities have responded by creating Artist
  Space Developments (ASDs)

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Washington County Space Needs Results
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Promotional Efforts

• LINC Survey
• 67 word of mouth advertising.
• 55 personal websites
• 43 social networking
• 42 email lists
• 2 market with PR companies
• 10 have agents

Washington County Survey
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Marketing in the Arts Industry

• Artists tend to carry out business via informal,
  unstructured, reactive mechanisms
• Only a small proportion develop a skilled
  business approach
• The role of the artist is changing with the
  faltering economy

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NEA Artists in the Workforce Comparison

• Median income 30,000
• Dancers had the lowest income of all artists at
  15,000
• Architects had the highest at 48,000

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Recommendations

• Artist Mentorship
• Web Development
• Artist Guild
• Monthly Media Highlights
• Washington County Artist Pledge
• Online or Printed Artist Publication
• Promotional Materials
• Updated Arts Website
• Online Selling Site

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Questions