 Performing Arts Mean Business Arts businesses contribute culturally and financially to local economies, and in Columbia County a new organization has set out to prove just how valuable the performing arts are to our community. A little over a year ago, the Chamber assisted in the formation of the Performing Arts Collective of Columbia County (PACCC), now known as Perform Columbia. Perform Columbia initially had two main goals, demonstrating how performing arts organizations impact Columbia County and strengthening that impact. Perform Columbia has grown to include 24 arts organizations from around the county. Nine call Hudson home base, and the other fifteen are from towns outside the county seat. Their diverse programming runs the gamut from contemporary music to plays, films and a family circus.  Already the group has accomplished several short-term goals, with longer-term goals in the works. Perform Columbia established a new website at www.performcolumbia.com, has presented an Arts Expo, printed a rack card listing this season's performances, and began working with the Columbia County Tourism Department on promotional opportunities and cultural tourism initiatives. They are spreading the word about their substantial economic impact, and getting to know each other better."As many other businesses have found, pooling resources is beneficial to everybody. You can pick each others' brains and learn new things," said Barbara Peduzzi, assistant producer at Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham. "Just the fact we have a web page and rack card telling people inside and out of the area that we have two dozen very diverse performing arts choices is a really big deal." When Mac-Haydn was founded 40 years ago, it was the only performing arts organization in the county. The theater is proud to have paved the way for others, Peduzzi said. Even though they are all competing for the consumers' dollar, the diverse selection strengthens the county, she added. "We're competing, but it's the same as when you go to a mall - the more the merrier. If you don't see something you want you'll go to the next store, and maybe you'll see something else you weren't necessarily looking for. It's making people aware of what is available. We help the whole area by giving people more reason to come here." Mac-Haydn employs 40 to 60 people each summer, who live and spend their paychecks in Columbia County. At Stageworks/Hudson, the county's professional Equity theater company, season subscribers receive a dining card entitling them to discounts at a dozen participating restaurants. "The restaurants agreed to be part of our discount program because they know we bring them business," explained Laura Margolis, Stageworks/Hudson's artistic director. Perform Columbia surveyed its members to gauge the local economic impact of the organizations. In 2005, Perform Columbia members spent an estimated $2.57 million; attendance at their events was 153,825; and audience expenditures were approximately $3.48 million, for a total economic impact of $6.05 million. Only 15 of the 24 collective members were able to participate in the survey, so the actual impact is even higher.  In 2007, those same 15 organizations spent $3.67 million, and registered attendance of 187,973, with audience expenditures estimated at $4.26 million. Total economic impact was $7.93 million, up an average of 11 percent a year. Those organizations also contribute hundreds of thousands in tax dollars to county and state coffers.People are often surprised when they see the economic impact, said Linda Mussmann, co-founder of Time & Space Limited (TSL) in Hudson. But they shouldn't be, because nine times out of 10 the people who live and work here are shopping at the local grocery store, buying lumber from the local hardware store and advertising in local media. "Money is what we all understand, and we are starting to understand that many of the people who live and work here are keeping their money right in this county," she said. "It's fascinating to me that there's such a powerful group of talented people here, contributing $8 million to the local economy," added Stephanie Monseu, co-founder of Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, which relocated to Columbia County three years ago. "We're driving traffic into the area, and hope to create good relationships with other businesses, the county supervisors, and be a positive thing for all business, with the goal being to create more jobs and more benefits for the community." Already Perform Columbia members have created better relationships with each other. Normally each organization is so busy with its own performances, the members rarely have time to meet others. But collaborations have happened as a result of Perform Columbia, with more likely. For example, Bindlestiff has been able to rent costumes from Mac-Haydn, has worked with TSL and Walking the Dog Theater, and is planning a program with Operation Unite. Perform Columbia evolved out of discussions with Chamber President David Colby about how performing arts professionals "could affect more change and work together on common goals we were working on individually," explained Margolis. "One of our challenges is to be seen as businesses. That's one of the reasons we approached the Chamber," she continued. "This could not be happening without the Chamber." The business-focused model of Perform Columbia seems to be a unique path for arts organizations, those involved said. "I've been in plenty of arts collectives where solo artists work together, but this is the first time I've seen so many organizations get together for a common purpose," said Monseu. "Putting forward the idea that performing arts are a valuable part of the local economy seems unique." Perform Columbia will help Columbia County take its rightful place at the table as the arts become an even bigger economic force, believes Mussmann. Much like the Farm Bureau gave the agricultural community a collective, more powerful voice, so too can Perform Columbia. "Towns all along the Hudson River are becoming important cultural communities. The arts are a driving energy in this community and have been for a long time, and it's become even more apparent as we lose our industrial base," said Mussmann. "Putting Perform Columbia on the map puts Columbia County's piece into the puzzle so we will be recognized as a force in this movement. "If we first link ourselves and then link to others around us, people can see that there's a lot already going on. Connect the dots - that's all you have to do." Visit http://www.performcolumbia.com/ for more information and check website calendar for performance dates and details. |
