Workgroup Members:
Deb Berentz, Elaine Downing, Raymond Dunkle, David R. Huskins, Mary Ann Jackson, Mitchell Kahan, Carl Kieffer, Elinore Korow, John MacDonald, Megan MacDonald, Linda MacDonald, Jo Ann Oelschlager, Debbie Prinz, Virginia Robinson, Jeff Sperry and Betty Taylor

1. To create a cultural environment that celebrates diversity and is a reflection of human creativity as expressed through artistic forms.
2. To provide a strong cultural core that balances and nourishes the individual and accentuates the Quality of Life in Akron.
3. To employ the arts to help address social issues
4. To celebrate and learn from our "yesterdays" by preserving Akron’s heritage as we optimize "today" and plan for "tomorrow".

• Group Brainstorming,
• Development of Factors expected to impact A/C&M in Akron by 2025,
• Fact gathering and Benchmarking,
• Assessment and Refining, and finally. . .
• Prioritization of initiatives.

Fact gathering included:

Demographics - Joann Oelschlager, Ellen Otto and Betty Taylor, and Mitchell Kahan
Mark Williamson re: City Web Site Plans - Ray, Meghan
Toledo Arts – Betty Taylor
Tourism Statistics – Mary Ann Jackson
Public Art – Ray Dunkle, Meghan MacDonald, Mitchell Kahan, and Betty Taylor
Akron Public Schools Arts programs – Dr. John MacDonald
Umbrella Incubator – Betty Taylor

1. Establish a Summit County VISUAL ARTS CENTER to serve as an energizing focus for Performing, Creating, Displaying, and Selling visual arts. This facility would also serve as an incubator – an environment to nurture and encourage artists. The Torpedo Factory in Toledo, Ohio can provide a template for further considering such a facility.
2. Re-emphasize ARTS EDUCATION in our schools through adjunct experiences and programs to acquaint children, young people, as well as citizens of all ages with art history, art mediums, and our Akron art heritage. Early, consistent, and continuing exposure to the arts can augment the shrinking arts orientation received today at home and in school.
3. Establish a SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL FACILITY . . . but with an exciting, contemporary name . . . that archives and celebrates our area’s origins – ice age, prehistoric, and Native American artifacts, colonial development, water influence, and major business impacts (farm machinery, cereal, clay products, matches, publishing, aerospace . . . and, of course, rubber). This facility could house Goodyear’s "World of Rubber" exhibit, as well as other collections pertaining to local history that has led Akron to its current stature as a Polymer Center for the new Millennium. The resurrection of the canal and emphasis on water power that drove much of Akron’s development can be focused in this facility. It would be important to incorporate interactive attractions (perhaps an aquarium or animated water experience) to attract citizens and visitors in sufficient numbers. In addition to linkages with schools and general interest of area residents, Akron is a popular destination and hosts thousands of visitors annually. These groups, often in Motor Coaches who include City Tours on their itineraries, would greatly benefit from this facility as a framework for other Summit County attractions, i.e. Stan Hywet Hall, The Civic Theatre, E.J. Thomas, Hower House, Aeros, The University of Akron, the Cuyahoga Valley, Hale Farm, Quaker Hilton, etc…
4. A new 800-1200 SEAT THEATRE is needed for smaller scaled performances. Such a theatre should offer excellent acoustics, universally good sight lines, suitable stage and wing sizing, millennium technology, and the elegant sophistication to provide a showcase for a range of cultural and artistic performances.
5. PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD ART is an exciting component in many cities. Sculpture, art kiosks, small galleries, and even special outdoor musical performances add charm and character to cityscapes. Our renovated downtown area would be greatly enhanced with an infusion of art. The downtown areas bordering the canal, Cascade Locks Park, sidewalks, Cascade, as well as neighborhood, parks, and byways offer wonderful opportunities for art. Public Art displays reinforce the cultural commitment and texture of a city.
6. PACKAGING AKRON ARTS for an "internal" market is equally important as for the "external" tourism market. Individual arts organizations need to be strong, but when viewed singularly, they cannot create the impact a collaborative, well framed and marketed cultural message can provide. 
   Collaborating on the creation of an Arts, Culture & Museums web site with accessibility from strategically positioned electronic kiosks would be a wonderful opportunity for collegial gain.
7. LEVERAGE ARTS, CULTURE & MUSEUMS FOR AKRON TOURISM MARKET.
   Few people realize, unless they are directly involved with tourism, that:
   • TOURISM represents 20% of the US economy
   • Ohio ranks #6 nationally in tourism
   • Akron ranks #3 in the State

8. The C.A.R.E.S. (Culture, Arts, Recreation, Education and Sports) initiative is, to our thinking, the single most critical effort for ensuring and expanding the broad cultural life of the Akron area. Although this issue will be on the ballot in Fall 2000, its impact will be well into the new Millennium.

COMPELLING REASONS FOR CULTURAL EMPHASIS:
There are many reasons for Akron’s leadership to focus on Arts, Culture and Museum components when visualizing the City 25 years from now. In addition to education, entertainment, and spiritual growth derived from A/C&M, a strong cultural environment supports tourism and economic development, while building critical mass for restaurants and downtown attractions.

It is clear that an enhanced cultural environment is an important factor when measuring Quality of Life in a region. It is also an important factor from an Economic Development perspective. Firms evaluating the region for business relocation or expansion are positively influenced by a robust arts component. Jobs will require even higher technology orientation in the next 25 years. Educated people typically appreciate a rich cultural environment. If we expect to attract and retain well-educated citizens capable of building the technology-based industries desired for the Akron Area, a balanced community, including the arts is essential.

Today Akron Area citizens have much to appreciate right here without leaving the boundaries of Akron. Unfortunately, those who have not lived elsewhere often lack a measuring stick. If we can continue making strides while drawing attention to our interesting yesterdays . . . our rich cultural heritage, the natural beauty of our land, the patrons and community leaders who have left a legacy that many communities long for. . . If we can more fully develop a robust cultural environment, matched by other acknowledged initiatives, perhaps we can retain our young people and help them realize the desirability of remaining in the Akron area as they raise their families and provide the leadership necessary to make Akron grow.

• Changing Demographics

Statistics from ARDB, from The University of Akron, and from the State of Ohio suggest that Summit County will have some slight growth during the years ahead; much of that growth is targeted for Northern Summit County. No large growth or attrition is projected and the composition of the population will not vary as radically as some areas of the country. We can expect a larger percentage of African-Americans and a slight increase in the Asian population due to our focus on technology. Too the Akron population will be aging; today’s baby-boomers will be seniors ranging from 60 – 80 years old. Birth rates are projected to be relatively flat, i.e. 2015 vs. 1990, so the young adult population for SUMMIT COUNTY is expected to remain at about the same levels as today.

• Computer/Internet
  Virtual Reality in 2025

• Funding
  The success of the C.A.R.E.S project will be a major factor in securing the future of its constituents The arts organizations can supplement, but not totally provide, necessary funding.
  Per Mitchell Kahan – anticipate some improvement in arts et al funding based on the enormous transfer of wealth and interest in supporting private education and cultural entities. This support is coming from foundations (which are growing) and from individuals – smaller grass routs giving.

Marketing and Packaging
Collaborative marketing and packaging will be essential for higher visibility of the arts in the Akron area. Some initiatives that should be considered include the following:

• Dynamic quarterly Calendar-Arts Alliance to be updated daily and to include cancellations
• Newsletter to educators
• Akron Visitors’ Book
  • Akron "Recruiting" Book for those considering or who have relocated here.
  • Publicity about "Akron Revitalized" . . . Quality of Life
  • Web site for Akron with stronger Arts, Culture, and Museum section
• The Akron Arts Alliance is developing a web site, but that must be linked with the City site.
• Also need to know what the Beacon Journal has planned electronically and how the Arts can link.
• Linkages should be established electronically with Real Estate firms and a method found to inform and educate new residents about the Arts availability in Akron.
• ARDB should have access to this information as an enhancement to a Quality of Life message when recruiting new firms and executives to Akron.
• Electronic Arts information at Kiosks in major hotels and thoroughfares (Easily updated and readily available).

• Competition

- Sports		- Fitness
- Computer/Couch Potato Syndrome		- Family
- Increased Work Loads

• Programming

-	Kids Arts Experiences
-	Balancing need to education and entertain
-	Opportunities for continuous arts exposure, i.e. show movies such as Amadeus, teach dancing, attend ballet or ASO rehearsal or have "back stage" experience.

• Performance/Exhibit Facilities Needs

-	Attractive, appropriate, accessible facilities
-	Parking near arts activities
-	Critical Mass of arts activities
-	Creating Vibrancy!!
-	Public Transportation
-	Visitor’s Center – Arts Info. . . Things To Do (At this time only know of the Brecksville Visitor’s Center)
-	Schematic of Arts Locations
-	Gateways to the City – Downtown Kiosks and in "outskirts" i.e. Montrose, Green, and neighborhoods

• Tourism = 20% of economy in US … Ohio #6 . . . Akron #3 in State

-	According to Summit County Convention Bureau statistics... Ohio travelers spent $14.3 bullion during 1998. Their spending directly supported 389,394 jobs with a payroll of $4.3 billion. Visitors contributed $1.04 billion of direct taxes to Ohio’s coffers. As the baby boomers age, retire, and have both the time and resources for leisure, the potential impact to tourism will be considerable. Akron has many treasures, but we now have the opportunity to optimize the whole through better collaboration, planning, and marketing.
-	Educate Hotel Desk Clerks and Convention Center Staff.
-	Utilize Electronic Kiosk describing Arts, Culture and Museum entertainment opportunities (paper brochures and fliers too difficult to keep updated and stocked.)

• Collaboration Efforts:

-	Cost saving opportunities
-	Joint marketing -- Collaborative efforts
-	Electronic Advertising

• Early Arts Exposure and Orientation:

-	Highlight introduction of Arts to children
-	De-emphasized arts in schools
-	1st and 2nd generation European families influence decreasing in numbers
-	Backstage/warm-ups instead of just viewing Nutcracker performance. Hands on! See nuts and bolts. - Teach physical prowess required for dance
-	Squelch stigma attached to some arts
-	Develop Arts Kiosks

• Create Strong Early and Continuing Education Model