Posts Tagged With: economic impact

Buy local, buy unique, buy art

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Kentucky Arts Council

Challenge yourself this holiday season to buy at least one gift from a Kentucky artist. Why? There are certainly many reasons to support your creative neighbors. Here are just a few thoughts.

1. Strengthen the local economy

2. Encourage thriving, distinct communities

3. Invest in your community

4. Make better use of your tax dollars

When you buy local, more of your money stays in your community, whether you define community as your town, your region or your state. Purchasing a product from a corporation headquartered thousands of miles away means little of your money stays in the community. Should you even care?

Well, yes. Local taxes support local services, like your fire department, public library, police station and public schools. Small business owners and their employees (who are usually local people) benefit from increased revenue, increasing their purchasing power.

Small, local businesses also invest in their communities, sponsoring activities and events that promote community spirit, pride and involvement. These events — festivals, gallery hops, youth sports teams, concerts — create a wonderful and desirable atmosphere. Don’t think job-creating companies fail to notice great quality of life. As John Petterson, senior vice president of operations and manufacturing, told the Lexington Herald-Leader in 2010 on Tiffany & Co.’s decision to open a manufacturing facility in Lexington, Ky.:

“I want to be employing people in areas where I think they are going to have a great quality of life,” Petterson said, noting the city’s arts, history and sports activities. “That’s important to us at Tiffany.” [site]

Where to start?

First, check out the fantastic artists and musicians listed in the Kentucky Arts Council’s directories: Kentucky Crafted, Architectural Artist Directory and Performing Arts Directory.

Peek into an open studio, gallery or showroom

Visit one of the special artist events happening across Kentucky in November and December. You can find a list of activities and participating Kentucky Crafted and Architectural artists here. We’ve also put together a list of Kentucky Crafted retailers that sell a wide variety of Kentucky-made merchandise. Several retailers are hosting special events and promotions throughout the holiday season.

Put a name with a purchase

Take a tip from Arts Marketing Director Ed Lawrence in “Double Your Pleasure” and spend a pleasant weekend afternoon meandering the countryside, stopping at a few studios and putting a face and name with a purchase.

Look at the Creative Commonwealth archives

We love promoting Kentucky artists and their excellent work. You can find several great posts featuring gift recommendations on the Creative Commonwealth blog. Here are a few of my favorites:

Give a gift from Kentucky: good food deserves better!

Give a gift from Kentucky: six ways to black(out) Friday

Give a gift from Kentucky: no need for a chemistry textbook with these skincare products

Good food still deserves better!

Rings to Riches

Don’t forget the holiday gift guide

Kentucky Monthly magazine just released an online holiday gift guide  featuring many Kentucky Crafted artists and retailers.

I’m sure you’ll find a one-of-a-kind present that’ll knock the socks off the person you’re buying for. Feel free to post your best finds on our Facebook page . We’d love to hear from you. Happy holidays, everyone.

 

Heidi Caudill, administrative associate 

Categories: Arts Advocacy, Other | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My $1,000 questions

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Kentucky Arts Council

My transition this year from communications director to arts marketing director at the Kentucky Arts Council collided with Kentucky Crafted: The Market, the signature event of the Kentucky Crafted program.

In the course of my 18-year career at the arts council, I have heard artists’ refrains about two issues that gave me pause. The first: “The Kentucky Crafted Program is not for me. I make one-of-a-kind, high-end artwork.” The second, “I don’t want to do wholesale; there’s not enough business to warrant it.” I’ve heard these statements so many times, I began to think they were true. But in my heart of hearts, I didn’t believe it, so I asked recent exhibitors at The Market the $1,000 questions.

 

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My first question was, “Did you sell any one item for over $1,000 on retail days? Due to the proprietary interests of the artists, I can’t divulge who sold what to whom, but the sales were impressive. The highest priced item sold at The Market was a piece of furniture for $10,000. Although there were very few artists who created work at retail prices of $1,000 or more, those that did, sold. Among the high ticket sales were furniture, wood carvings, jewelry, paintings and quilts. Other price tags of items sold were $4,500, $2,800, $2,500, $2,000, $1,300, several at $1,000 and a squeaker at $998.

With this kind of response, I’m ready to dispel the myth and recruit more artists into the program who create one-of-a-kind work.

I chose the second question to get a feeling for how much wholesale activity goes on at Kentucky Crafted: The Market. The wholesale days (especially sales to out-of-state buyers) create what economists call economic impact. Government programs are easy to justify when they create greater economic impact than their cost. So my second $1,000 question was, “Did you write any wholesale orders for over $1,000? If so, what was your highest single order?

Of the 50 exhibitors who responded, exactly half of them reported having written at least one order for $1,000, with many having multiple orders of over $1,000. Most of the orders were in the $1,000 – $1,500 range, with three orders close to or a little above $2,500. Sizeable wholesale orders were not as brisk as I had hoped to see, but I have a feeling when we get the formal sales reports in from exhibitors, we will see a very strong wholesale showing.

It seems that the time is right for artists involved with the Kentucky Crafted Program to start thinking bigger.

Big ticket items do sell at Kentucky Crafted: The Market. Big orders can be written at the Market. Kentucky Crafted 2013 will grow bigger in size and geographical market reach as long as Kentucky’s artists continue to focus on quality craftsmanship and artistic excellence, the foundation of the Kentucky Crafted brand.

Ed Lawrence, arts marketing director

Categories: Visual Arts | Tags: , , , | 8 Comments

The squeaky wheel gets the grease

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Kentucky Arts Council

We all have an opinion about what the government should be doing. We’re willing to share those opinions in line at the grocery store, while getting a hair cut, with people who always disagree with us and with bored family members. But how often are we willing to share those opinions when they actually matter and will be taken into consideration?

People who are passionate about the economic impact of the arts have a rare opportunity in the next few weeks. You can share your opinions with someone who will actually listen! Kentucky officials have hired the Arkansas consulting firm Boyette Strategic Advisors to determine how the Commonwealth can attract businesses and jobs using existing assets. The plan called “Kentucky’s Unbridled Future,” is detailed on Boyette Strategic Advisors website.

The best part of this plan is that you can provide your input by taking an online survey or attending one of the upcoming statewide economic development visioning meetings. Click the schedule below to find a meeting in your area:

Find a meeting near you

Businesses are attracted to communities with vibrant arts and cultural scenes. Supporting our existing arts infrastructure (a great Kentucky asset) is a way to lure businesses. If one of these meetings is coming to your area, it’s time for you to get out and be the “squeaky wheel” so the arts in Kentucky get the proper “grease.”

For facts and resources to take to your public meeting, contact kyarts@ky.gov or call 502-564-3757.

Sarah Schmitt, arts access director (with some help from Dan Strauss, senior program analyst)

Hear this blog

Squeaky Wheel


Categories: Arts Advocacy, Arts Organizations | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

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