Mayors Support Local Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues
Adopted at the 91st Annual Meeting in 2023
WHEREAS, Performance venues that achieve local heritage status, or cultural significance, can offer community benefits and opportunities to populations that may not otherwise be exposed to the arts; and
WHEREAS, Venues that feature arts programs, performances and cultural initiatives can be economic drivers and help to bring vibrancy and growth to a community; and
WHEREAS, In Carmel, Indiana the mission of the Center for the Performing Arts is to inspire the community through enriching arts experiences, and the Center serves as an anchor for an arts-based economic development strategy that has made Carmel a city prominently featured at the top of numerous quality of life rankings, including number one on niche.com and CNN Money; and
WHEREAS, In Columbia, South Carolina the Nickelodeon sponsors a wide variety of in-school and after school media literacy programs for children of all ages, summer camps, adult workshops field trip programs, speaker panels and regular theatrical programming; and
WHEREAS, In Austin, Texas the Paramount Theatre, operated by the Austin Theatre Alliance, has sponsored Paramount Education for fifteen years. The Paramount Education program serves over 20,000 students annually and hold student matinees with the goal to inspire intellect and imagination for young people by providing them opportunities to experience, perform and learn through the arts; and
WHEREAS, The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana, the Nickelodeon in Columbia, South Carolina, and the Paramount Theatre, operated by the Austin Theatre Alliance, are non-profit organizations that require financial and membership support; and
WHEREAS, The Center for the Performing Arts, the Nickelodeon, the Paramount, and similar venues achieve a status of heritage, or culturally significant performance venues; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues require innovative support, partnership and initiatives from local governments to address age and abuse, building wear, and maintain historic character; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues create a sense of place and an appeal that help to drive local economic prosperity and the visitor economy; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues, such as the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana hold outreach and education opportunities through programs for children, teens, adults, schools, families and community partners; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues, such as the Nickelodeon in Columbia, South Carolina emerged as a major cultural anchor on Columbia, South Carolina's Main Street where the theater attracts over 70,000 people to the city annually; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues, such as the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, operated by the Austin Theatre Alliance, and opened in 1915, offers Title One schools reduced costs and free admission to the theater, over $30,000 in annual scholarships to summer camps, and target students who have shown interest in the performing arts but have not had the opportunity to be involved with arts programs; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues such as the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel offer serve as a headquarters for the area non-profits like The Great American Songbook that has offices and an exhibit gallery in the Palladium section of the Center; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues facing the challenges of age, such as the Paramount Theatre in Austin, require support through unique partnerships with local government to ensure their historic attraction continues to positively impact the area economy and serve as an anchor of artistic programs; and
WHEREAS, Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues, such as the Nickelodeon in Columbia, South Carolina repurposed a bank building into a one-screen theater, making use of an existing structure and preserving the built environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED The United States Conference of Mayors supports the benefits of Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues such as the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana, the Nickelodeon in Columbia, South Carolina and the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The United States Conference of Mayors supports innovative partnerships and initiatives from federal, state and local governments to address age and abuse, building wear, and maintain the historic character of Heritage and Culturally Significant Performance Venues.