ART, CULTURE AND RECREATION

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING

ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION
The Atlanta Arts
Accords
National Arts and Humanities Month
Encouraging Summer and After-School Prevention Programs
Federal Funding for the ARts, Humanitites and Museums
Supporting the NEA's Challenge America Initiative
50th Anniversary of the Local Arts Agencies Movement
Full Funding of Land and Water Conservation Fund and UPARR Programs

MISCELLANEOUS

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RESOLUTIONS INDEX

Resolutions Adopted at the
67th Annual Conference of Mayors
New Orleans, Louisiana
June 11-15, 1999

ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION

THE ATLANTA ARTS ACCORDS

WHEREAS, public support for the arts at all levels in the United States has been critical in enhancing an American civilization – united through the arts and strengthened by diverse cultural expressions – to the point that we, as a nation, are now engaged in unprecedented and growing numbers as creators, performers and audience members; and

WHEREAS, 35 years of public support for the arts at the federal level and through 50 states, six special jurisdictions and in thousands of large and small cities and counties throughout the nation, has been an economic generator stimulating a healthy, vibrant, and growing nonprofit arts economy employing 1.3 million people in full-time jobs; returning $3.4 billion in federal income taxes, $1.2 billion in state and $790 million in local government revenue, and has an overall economic impact of $37 billion; and

WHEREAS, public support for the arts has helped to acknowledge, recognize and inspire a growing number of Americans who participate in a booming cultural industry, who give voice to our culture, and who generously offer the fruits of their talents to young and old alike; and

WHEREAS, the institutions which foster and make accessible the work of artists enhance the ability of our citizens to participate in a more civil society, uniting us in understanding and appreciating our diverse cultural heritage, and empowering us to imagine and create a shared vision for the future; and

WHEREAS the goal of public support for the arts at the federal, state and local levels is to enable every individual to participate in the arts as a creator, performer, or attendee. Specifically, we recognize that:

public support enables more people to participate in and experience art of higher quality;

public support expands access to the arts for people whose opportunities to participate are otherwise restricted by geographic, socio-economic, educational or other barriers;

public support of the arts empowers people to participate effectively in a democratic society by developing skills of perception, reflection, interpretation and communication, which promote understanding of diverse and cross-cultural values;

public support of the arts enhances the unique contributions of artists to the well-being of the nation's social, political, cultural and economic life;

.public support of the arts helps build a sense of national, state and community identity by preserving and nurturing our common cultural heritage;

public support of the arts enriches the quality of individual, family and community life;

public support for lifelong education in the arts empowers people of all ages to develop their creativity in school, at home, and in the workplace;

public support for prevention and intervention programs centered on art, recreation, and education proves successful at reducing juvenile crime and enhancing academic performance among youth at risk;

public support for the arts enhances community development, promotes cultural planning, stimulates business development, spurs urban renewal, attracts new businesses, and improves the overall quality of life in our cities and towns; and

public support of cultural tourism is increasingly playing a critical role both in the economic surge of the travel and tourism industry as well as in community revitalization; and

WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Mayors joined colleague organizations such as the National Association of Counties and National Conference of State Legislatures to sign The Atlanta Arts Accords on June 7, 1999 at the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in Atlanta, Georgia,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges mayors to pass similar proclamations at the local level pledging their commitment to the following:

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