Legislative roundtable focused on role of arts and culture in the city

MANCHESTER, NH – The city of Manchester benefits in many ways from the arts, and businesses should urge legislators to support for the arts, agreed the panelists at a roundtable hosted Friday by New Hampshire Citizens for the Arts (NHCFA) in the French Hall auditorium of the NH Institute of the Arts (NHIA). This legislative roundtable was intended to inform and update Manchester-area state and local officials and to assist NHCFA in developing action steps for the future. A livestream video is on Facebook.

In its program notes, NHCFA wrote that:

• “Arts and cultural production accounted for $2.3 billion and 3.4 percent of the NH economy and contributed 20,685 jobs in 2015 (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis).”
• “Adding the arts component to STEM to create STEAM is the best way to develop workforce skills needed in the 21st Century including creativity, community, collaboration and critical thinking.’
• “Manchester’s arts and cultural resources anchor a vibrant downtown and drive economic and infrastructure development.”

Attendees received two pages of statistics from a report, The Jobs in New England’s Creative Economy and Why They Matter. They also received a two-page handout of New Hampshire-specific statistics and facts.

The roundtable was moderated by Kent Devereaux, president, New Hampshire Institute of Art. Panelists included:

• Mayor Joyce Craig
• Peter Ramsey, President and CEO, The Palace Theatre
• Howard Brodsky, Chairman & Co-CEO, CCA Global Partners
• Alan Chong, Director and CEO, Currier Museum of Art
• Jeanine Tousignant, Principle, Jeanine & Company
• Sarah Stewart, Commissioner Elect, NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Brodsky urged, “A bigger vision for the city,” and Mayor Craig stated that there is upcoming planning for the city neighborhoods, including a creative arts district. Audience members made a number of suggestions, such as emphasizing dance education, programming for young adults.

Former Congressman Paul Hodes, who has long been active in the arts with his wife, Peggo Horstman Hodes, a board member of NHCFA, said, “The arts and culture are responsible for 3.4 percent of the state’s gross domestic product, and urged attendees to:

1. Join NHCFA.
2. Call one state representative to express your support for the arts.