September 20, 2010

During these hard economic times, how can one be expected to support the arts in any capacity. The job market is tenuous at best, people are losing family homes, and more and more people are depending on government assistance to make ends meet. A piece of art alone cannot keep the electric company from turning off your power, feed your kids or pay your mortgage....or can it?

Much like gems and gold, art has an intrinsic value. Paint a mural in a downtown and watch the surrounding shops embellish their storefronts. Art can also bring in tourist dollars. State College's Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts annually brings together artists of many disciplines, attracting out-of-town as well as local visitors. The revenue from the Arts Festival helps artists, musicians, dancers, local business, restaurants, hotels, etc. The impact of the festival on the local economy is quite impressive. All done with art.

The Pa Quilt Trails, a combination of traditional crafts and arts. It has the potential to attract eco-tourism dollars, spruce up the community, and bring beauty in everyday lives. Every dollar donated helps make the PA Quilt Trails a reality, one that will benefit its community for years to come.