The Morgan Hill Library, Culture and Arts Commission (LCAC) wants to hear from local artists and organizations about the state of arts and culture in Morgan Hill and about how tahe community can best support local arts.
We have launched a survey to gather information and hope that you will take a few moments to share your thoughts with us. Results will be shared with the community and we hope to create a directory of local arts and cultural groups and to invite the local artists and organizations who respond to meet together, providing a platform for networking, collaboration and sharing of resources.
Survey results are also intended to provide a factual understanding of the economic and social impact that arts organizations and individual artists have on our city. In addition, the survey provides insights into sources of arts funding, identifies areas of shared opportunity and profiles the current relationship between businesses and the arts.
There is much room to work together and share resources among the arts and cultural efforts within our community, but the first step to doing this is to identify the different groups and individuals active in these areas and to find out what their needs are (which we hope to do through this survey).
By working together, organizations can extend their reach, maximize resources, discover new solutions and further their missions. Collaborations can help arts and cultural organizations to engage new audiences, conceive new ways to operate and accomplish what cannot be done alone. Local organizations can help to cross-promote each others’ events, coordinate planning and apply for funding together.
The Morgan Hill LCAC hopes to help facilitate some of the connections between groups and also to raise the overall awareness in the community of the wonderful work these groups are doing and the rich resources of talented people our community houses.
Three different surveys are available: one aimed at arts and cultural organizations; one for artists, musicians and performers; and one for local organizations and businesses supporting the arts. The surveys can be found online at http://morganhillarts.org/. Surveys are also available at Gallery Morgan Hill, 17490 Depot St.; Lohart Gallery, 35 E. First St., Ste. B; and Karen’s Art Place, 17400 S. Monterey Road, No. 1D.
Arts and culture are important to communities. By improving the quality and livability of residents, the arts also increase the attractiveness of that city to individuals and companies considering relocation. When making relocation decisions, people investigate not only obvious bottom-line considerations but also take into account the quality of life in a city. Arts and cultural organizations play a huge role in that, as well as in preserving the history and spirit of our community and making it such an attractive place for people to live in.
Numerous economic impact studies around the country have shown that the arts can have a strong positive influence on development and revitalization, as well as contributing to the tax revenue base, the public image of an area, and the diversity in a community.
LCAC is a seven-member body appointed by the Morgan Hill City Council to advise on library, culture and art issues in the city, to consult with private community groups supportive of library, arts and cultural programs, and serve as liaison between such groups and the City. More information about the commission can be found on the city’s Web site http://www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/html/gov/boards/boards.asp?c_id=240000025. The commission meets on the second Monday of each month at 7pm in the council chambers and meetings are open to the public.
Emily Shem-Tov has been a commissioner on the LCAC since June. She and her husband live in Morgan Hill with their cat. She is currently working on planning a crossword puzzle and sudoku fundraiser for Friends of the Morgan Hill Library’s Beyond Books Campaign which is raising funds for art and additional furnishings for the new library.
