Candidate Survey
This survey was orginially sent out on September 20, 2010.
ARTS & CULTURE SURVEY: ELECTION 2010
Thank you for taking a few moments to address these issues regarding Nevada’s arts industry (or creative industry)—represented by a broad workforce of innovative, creative people and organizations in all 17 Nevada counties, from musicians, dancers, architects and designers to writers, photographers, filmmakers, organizations and cultural facilities. We ask for your responses to the following short questions and issue statements. This information will be shared with voters who support the arts and arts education throughout Nevada via the Arts4Nevada.org website and updates on the Metro Arts Council of Southern Nevada website. Once you’ve completed this survey, you may also post an arts and culture platform or statement as well as campaign information on the Arts4Nevada.org website.
* indicates a required field
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Name:
Office Sought:
Party:
District:
QUESTION 1 Did you have access to or participate in arts activities when you were growing up? *
Please check all that apply:
Music
Visual Arts
Theatre
Dance
Other
NA
Comments:
QUESTION 2 What arts activities have you personally attended in the past 12 months? Please check all that apply: *
Music
Visual Arts
Theatre
Dance
Photography
Writing Festivals
Other
NA
Comments:
QUESTION 3 If you have children, are they personally engaged in arts activities, in school or after school? Please check all that apply: *
Music
Visual Arts
Theatre
Dance
Other
NA
Comments:
ISSUE 1: The Arts and Nevada’s Economic Diversification
BACKGROUND:
Today, thousands of artists, artisans and professionals work to ensure access to arts experiences for residents and visitors to our state in communities across Nevada. They comprise a viable and often undervalued sector of our workforce. Nevada’s creative industry and the nonprofit arts sector are vital elements of our present economy and national studies demonstrate that they can benefit Nevada’s economic diversification efforts. Other western states are developing strategies to cultivate a creative workforce to attract/foster sustainable creative enterprises. A recent report from the Kyser Center for Economic Research (Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 5, 2010) says companies, while interested in a favorable tax and business climate, also seek communities with a strong availability of quality cultural opportunities, from museums to performing arts.
ISSUE STATEMENT #1 Nevada should leverage its unique lifestyle and entrepreneurial spirit to cultivate a creative workforce to stimulate creative enterprises, job growth, a stronger tax base and an improved quality of life for our residents. *
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
I would also like more information on this subject
Comments:
ISSUE 2: The Value of Public Policies and Funding for the Arts in Nevada
BACKGROUND:
Nevada Revised Statute 223C states that the State of Nevada should insure that the role of the arts in the life of the communities of the state will continue to grow and play an ever increasing part in the cultural development and educational experience of the citizens of the State of Nevada. The Nevada Arts Council (NAC) is the sole public funding source for small and large organizations in every county and city in Nevada (with the exception of the City of Reno). The NAC does so with a combination of general appropriations, federal funding and private donations. An average of 80% of NAC dollars goes directly to Nevada communities and schools through direct grants, outreach programs, workshops, conferences and specialized skills training. NAC grants and programs leverage new public and private dollars that are reinvested at the local level and expand arts and arts education programming, facility development and other forms of economic activity.
ISSUE STATEMENT #2 State appropriations and policies to advance Nevada’s arts and culture industry through the Nevada Arts Council are extremely important to the vitality and livability of Nevada’s communities and the state’s economy. *
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
I would also like more information on this subject
Comments:
ISSUE 3: The Value of Arts Education for Nevada’s Youth
BACKGROUND:
Research shows that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years. State appropriations through the NAC sustain arts education programs for our youth as well as our older and disenfranchised populations, and are necessary to development the workforce and creative entrepreneurs required for our economic diversification efforts. As support for the arts is reduced for Nevada’s educational system K-12, arts enrichment activities are provided through the NAC’s vigorous arts education grants and programs, such as the annual statewide Poetry Out Loud Recitation Competition, which engaged more than 2,000 of Nevada’s high school youth in 2010.
ISSUE QUESTION #3 Would you support policies and funding to increase the availability of arts education opportunities in our schools as well as those provided after school by arts and community organizations? *
Support
Neutral
Oppose
I would also like more information on this subject
Comments:
ISSUE 4: The Value of Nevada Arts Council Funding
BACKGROUND:
The Nevada Arts Council (NAC), as a division within the Department of Cultural Affairs, promotes public access, participation and investment in Nevada’s arts and culture industry—and does so on a cost of just 3 cents per $100 of state dollars. Yet the NAC sustained a 43% cut in state funding, totaling over$700,000.00, during the 2009 Legislative Session—one of the largest cuts to one of the smallest state agencies.
ISSUE QUESTION #4 Given the previous substantial budget reduction, would you support a status quo budget approach for the NAC in 2011, in order to support the arts and culture nonprofit businesses throughout the state and in recognition of the important role the arts and culture play in our economy and in our quality of life? *
Support
Neutral
Oppose
I would also like more information on this subject
Comments:
QUESTION 5 (FOR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES ONLY) As a member of the Nevada State Legislature, would you be willing to join the Nevada Legislative Arts Caucus and learn more about the impact of Nevada’s arts industry for our communities, educational system, and local economic and tourism efforts? (The Caucus was formed in 1990 by Sen. Dina Titus and has been coordinated by the Nevada Arts Advocates.) *
Yes
No
We would welcome any additional comments you would like to make with regards to the arts in Nevada. Comments:
