Culture is not just something “nice” to have, an optional extra to make residents and visitors feel good.
Rather, it is an economic essential, a critical part of a modern, vibrant city.
What many of the world’s leading cities have in common is their status as an outstanding centre for arts and culture. The Royal Ballet in London, the Met in New York, La Scala in Milan… these cultural drawcards reasons to go to such cities in and of themselves.
And people who come for arts and culture come to spend. This economic reality shows even in Australian cities which still fall short of deserving the mantle “creative capitals”.
Half of all overseas visitors attend at least one cultural attraction while they are in town. If they come for a day, they spend $30 to $35 per head on arts and culture; if they stay overnight, their spend jumps to $120.
Residents, too, show their appreciation, with 65 percent of Australians attending at least one form of arts and culture in a year. This support is particularly evident in people aged over 30.
If, however, a city such as Perth is to grow and prosper it needs to do much more in this vital area. Nice beaches and good weather are all very well, but they do little for the bottom line.
To secure the kind of creative and thinking people who can take a city to another level of competitiveness, Perth needs to offer a lifestyle that this crucial knowledge sector finds attractive.
The presence of a vibrant arts and culture scene is a major drawcard. A city that takes its culture seriously has a major advantage over a competitor trying to secure the services of creative people.
Funding support for the arts varies wildly, with different models operating around the world. In the United States, support comes largely from private or philanthropic quarters. In Europe, where there are 20 times the number of opera houses in major cities than in their American counterparts, support is primarily from government.
In Australia, like Canada, there is a mixture of support from the private and public arenas. In uncertain economic times, sponsorship or direct funding of the arts is often cut back, seen as a optional extra – a spend with little, or no, return.
This is a very short-sighted approach. Arts and culture doesn’t just provide the social return we all acknowledge makes for a better society; it provides real return in areas vital to long-term growth. It is a significant employer – 35 percent of the population either works or volunteers in the area. It encourages people, visitors and residents, to tip money into the economy by attending arts and culture events. And, crucially, it attracts the kind of people we need to develop a city into a major player.
For Australian cities to be in with a fighting chance, it is essential for government at every level to hold firm, to recognise the real and intrinsic value of arts and culture, and lift its support. Culture doesn’t just make us feel good; it makes good economic sense.
I couldn’t agree more, Brian. I think also of value is the informal interactions and networking opportunities that occur when people attend cultural events (or at the bar afterwards). Looking at the success of places like Silicon Valley, much of the innovation & IP is believed to be generated because of the opportunities the area provides for networking (as opposed to formal, structured office meetings); that is, a city/precinct that facilitates the interactions of creative industry professionals.
I know that I am often at my most talkative after a couple of drinks …