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ART-SPEAK IS THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH'S
CULTURAL COMMISSION
Art-Speak was created as a direct result of the Portsmouth Cultural Plan. Art-Speak exists officially on behalf of the City to represent and promote arts and culture, and to act on all related matters. Its mission is to promote appreciation, awareness, participation, and dialogue in support of arts and culture. Art-Speak performs these services for the City of Portsmouth and its City Council and all artists and art/cultural-related organizations in the Seacoast community. Please see the Art-Speak fact sheet for more information.
The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee on Arts and Culture was created in the fall of 1999 to develop a Cultural Plan, Community Life and the Arts. It was approved by Portsmouth City Council and incorporated into the City's Master Plan.
THE ARTS MEAN BUSINESS ON THE SEACOAST! In 2006, Portsmouth participated in the Americans for the Arts (AFTA) Arts & Economic Prosperity III
economic impact study, along with 156 other cities and regions. The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study provides compelling new evidence that nonprofit arts and culture organizations are a $38.18 million industry in the Portsmouth Seacoast Area. One that supports 1,161 full-time equivalent jobs and generates $4.38 million in local and state government revenue. This data is based on in-depth surveys of 36 local cultural organizations. Nonprofit arts and culture organizations, which spend $12.66 million each year, leverage a remarkable $25.52 million in additional spending by arts and culture audiences, spending that pumps vital revenue into local restaurants, hotels, retail stores, parking garages, and other businesses. By demonstrating that investing in the arts and culture yields economic benefits, Arts & Economic Prosperity III lays to rest the common misconception that communities support the arts and culture at the expense of local economic development. In fact, communities that support the arts and culture not only enhance their quality of life, they also invest in their economic well-being. In September 2007, Randy Cohen, Vice President of Policy and Research for AFTA, visited Portsmouth to present the results of the Seacoast's Arts and Economic Prosperity III Survey. Randy made presentations to the Portsmouth Rotary Club, the Portsmouth Herald editorial board, business and cultural professionals (at a reception held at Seacoast Repertory Theatre), and non-profit development professionals (at a workshop at held at Strawbery Banke Museum). Art-Speak created a brochure and summary sheet for these presentations to provide quick reference to the economic data in the full report. There was a great deal of media coverage for the presentations including an Editorial in the Portsmouth Herald and an Op-Ed piece by Art-Speak in the Herald. The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study was generously funded by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, The Provident Bank Community Foundation and the Portsmouth Economic Development ommission.
Go to the Arts & Economic Prosperity III page to find out more!
Art-Speak receives funding for its administration and activities from:
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