On Issue 18 for arts and culture (See
http://www.Issue18.org)
For those readers who may still be under the mistaken impression that Issue 18 will mainly benefit larger arts & culture organizations, primarily those centered in University Circle and downtown, please allow me to share some stories from the Broadway School of Music & the Arts (BSMA) - annual budget around $150,000- located in the Slavic Village area of Cleveland. For 25 years, BSMA, at E. 55 St. & Broadway Avenue (prime filming site for “Welcome to Collinwood”), has been providing enriching arts educational experiences to residents of all ages from its immediate neighborhood, North Broadway, and beyond. (North Broadway, just ten minutes SE of downtown in the shadows of Mittal Steel, is one of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods - with a 36.5% poverty rate [48.8% child poverty rate] in 1999.) These stories, and quotes from our program participants, reflect just some of the impact that BSMA has on residents of surrounding communities: Chris received his first saxophone from his father, who died soon after. For this musically precocious black male and South High School graduate raised by a single mother, that saxophone, and his ability to play it, resulted in a full music scholarship three years ago to Youngstown State University. His talent was nurtured along the way by caring adult musician teachers in the Cleveland schools, at BSMA and the Salvation Army Miles Park Corps and in the local big band and mentoring art organization Gabriel’s Horns. Jevaughn has had four open heart surgeries so far in his 13 years. His father brought him to take sax and piano lessons at BSMA because he couldn’t participate in sports. This blossoming young man, now an 8th grader at Cleveland School of the Arts, told me with pride last week that he was accepted to the Cleveland school district’s “All-City Orchestra”. Participants in BSMA’s “Rejoice in Recovery” drumming and singing program at the Southeast Women’s Center of Community Assessment and Treatment Services say: “It takes my mind off of a lot of stress”; “It help(s) me forget tension of being in treatment”; and “It calms me, and makes me happy”. And a Counselor Trainee there wrote: “I spend a lot of time with the women here (during the drumming circle). I see them come alive, smile and express themselves like no other group. I see this as an opportunity to learn to work as a team. Many don’t like or trust other women. They learn to have fun – sober. Many never have. It is another way to express pent up feelings and frustrations. It builds their confidence, something they have very little of. Also, they are re-training their brain through creativity. Using drugs is very concrete and only a portion of the brain is being used; however all of it is being damaged. It has been a wonderful opportunity to be a part of this.” Over the past six years, BSMA has provided more than $25,000 in financial aid to students of all ages who otherwise could not participate in music and arts lessons and classes. Some of our applicants share why the arts are important to them: “It is important to me that my children are well rounded culturally. The arts allow them to express themselves in a variety of ways. My children enjoy music and feel proud to show off their talents. My son loves his trumpet and wants to become a better musician. My daughter loves singing and has started to write songs. She wants to learn how to improve on her vocals. I support them in whatever it is they want to do especially when it means so much to them.” – Single mother of three who is not receiving child support and last year earned under $10,000. “Taking music lessons and art lessons are important to help extend their education and let them know that there is more to life than what is at their front door. I need for my children because I have five males to know more than what they see on the news. They need to accomplish more than what is in reach. I want them to have the skills to reach beyond.” – Single parent raising five children, one of whom is her grandchild, and last year earned under $14,000. “He has a desire to play drums and he is very much interested. It helps him with coordination and his hand movements for his other activity – amateur boxing. He loves to hear and play music instruments.” – Single mother of one who last year earned under $10,000. The community creation in 2004 of the “Broadway: Diversity in Progress” mural, a joint project of BSMA and Slavic Village Development, Inc. spurred transformation of the adjacent vacant lot into a charming urban pocket park which this past summer hosted a weekly CityFresh farmer’s market. This is a great example of how Arts & Culture can stimulate neighborhood revitalization and improve the lives of all our residents. Issue 18, if it passes, would be a significant, stable source of funding that BSMA would be eligible to apply for and receive annually for the next ten years to support our work with Cleveland residents much like those above. I ask your readers to help make this possible, for BSMA and other arts & culture organizations of all sizes, in both urban and suburban neighborhoods, by voting FOR Issue 18.from Cool Cleveland reader Barbara Bachtell, Executive Director, Broadway School of Music & the Arts broadwayschATyahoo.com
Until recently I have separated some of my personal feelings from my professional ones on the Arts and Culture Initiative (Issue 18) -- I was never a fan of taxing the vices of individuals. And, after moving from the east coast almost two years ago and being struck by how high the taxes are here, I felt that yet another tax on anyone was not a good idea (back to this in a minute). However, I am 100% behind Issue 18. I know there are many needs in the community and that this initiative seems to be focused on only one of them. In truth it has an impact on more than just arts and culture. You’re heard or seen the rationale…Issue 18 has a direct economic impact because the institutions that will benefit create more than $1 billion annually in economic activity and account for several thousand jobs. These institutions also have a direct educational impact because national studies show that students who are exposed to arts and culture on a regular basis have improved graduation rates and better test scores. Through outreach programs these institutions touch the lives of nearly 100,000 public school children every year. We know that there is even an indirect role of inspiring students to pursue careers in fields they might not otherwise consider. All of these factors point to the fact that these institutions and organizations reach into the lives of more than just those who can afford to purchase admission or tickets. And they do this on very tight budgets! Getting back to the change in my personal feelings about targeting people for yet another tax, I have paid more attention recently to studies that show how much taxpayers cover the cost of smoking-related illnesses. I was astounded to see that it comes to more than $1 billion annually in the state of Ohio. While I’m still not an advocate of more taxes, this fact removes a little of the sting in singling out smokers for this modest tax. I know you’re probably thinking we should tax those whose lifestyles create other illnesses that are covered by taxpayers, but that’s a subject for another day. Despite the city’s shortfalls, Cleveland is a wonderful place to live for lots of reasons. Among them are the world-class medical institutions, the fabulous Metro Parks, the easy access to sporting events and extremely valuable arts and culture community. Please help preserve at least some of these valuable assets by voting yes for Issue 18. Don’t wait for someone else to make this happen on Election Day. Take an active role by going to vote and perhaps by volunteering (check out www.issue18.org to find out how).
from Cool Cleveland reader Bill Lynerd wlynerdATcmnh.org
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