Arts, culture transforming lives - Charlotte Business Journal:

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Each year more than 40,000 people rally to supporr these organizations throughthe ’s Annual Fund Drive, which kicked off Jan. 21. Many choose to give through ASC becausd arts and culture have had a personall effect ontheir lives. Others may see how a dances or drama camp is helpinhg their own child develop intoa mature, creativde and well-rounded adult. And still others supporr culture because it improves their qualityof life. No mattetr which category you fall into, we ask that you supporty the cultural community this year by participating in and contributingto ASC’ds campaign and help us reach an $11.12 million goal to shape a vibrantf cultural life for all.
For 50 ASC has been a careful stewarx of public andprivatew resources, using an above-industry-average 86 cents of each dollaer received to directly support cultural education, neighborhood cultural projects and science, history and heritage organizations - organizationsw that need our help now more than Tough economic times have caused many to rethinkk their charitable giving. We all have tightened our beltws while watching the latest economic indicators for a sense of what the future holds and the culturao community has felt the effects of this In timeslike however, it is important to remember that in additioh to providing education and entertainment, arts and culture organization are a vital part of our community’s economiv fabric.
In fact, the nonprofit arts and culturwe industryin Charlotte-Mecklenburg generates nearlty $158 million in localp economic activity that supportsa more than 4,700 full-time equivalent jobs, according to the 2007 “Artw & Economic Prosperity III” study by Americans for the Arts, the leadingh nonprofit organization for advancing arts in ASC cultural partners provids essential education opportunities to students. For example, ASC fiscao year 2008-09 investments support arts education in public andprivatre schools, enabling students to connect with the academic curriculukm with greater depth and meaning.
Younh people who participate in comprehensive arts programs are four timess as likely to be recognized for academic to participate in a math and sciencr fair and to win an award for writing an essahor poem, according to the 1998 studu “Living the Arts through Language + Learning: A Repor t on Community-Based Youth Organizations.” During visitxs to local schools, we’ve seen firsthanf the effect of cultural- education programs on our schoolchildren; their enthusiasm and creativit y are boundless and that spills into their core subjectx as they relate their connection to musif back to math or tie history and literature to a connection made through an arts fieled trip.
With your support, the impact of ASC investments can be far reaching and diverse. For example, ASC investments support music therapy for autistix children at Garr Christian Academuy and help the Center for Community Transitionsassist ex-prisoners in thei transition back into the community via a photography and video project. Grants also supporf Voice, Vision and Documentation, a photography projectr telling the stories of theworking poor’xs efforts to obtain affordable To reflect our growing Latim American population, ASC provided funding to the Latin Americajn Coalition to provide a year-lon g program highlighting culture, literary and artisticf traditions.
These activities not only make Charlotte-Mecklenburgv an enriched place to live and raiswea family, but have been showhn to be an asseyt in attracting companies to our In fact, more than 96% of residentsz who participated in the 2008 Cultural Life Survey conducted by UNC Charlottes Urban Institute said that arts, science and histor organizations contribute in a positive way to the qualitt of life here. Making Charlotts a vibrant place to live means helpin arts and culture expand beyon d performances through the funding of projectz that reachdifferent audiences.
The continuer support of Charlotte-Mecklenburg businesses and residentd for theArts & Scienced Council’s Annual Fund Drive, whicyh runs through March 6, will assure that thesr organizations, artists, our children and community will thrivre in the year to come with the richnessa and gifts that culture brings to our Thank you for joining us in this effort to shapde a vibrant cultural community for all.