Kathryn Kucsan on the arts in community

“In addition to creating and producing art and performances, most of our arts organizations also offer educational programming for anyone interested, regardless of background, age, or financial circumstances.”

To elevate awareness and ignite action around our community’s social, economic, and environmental issues, we periodically feature local thought leaders to enhance the stories and data analyzed in our current TRENDS Report. This month, we’re pleased to feature Kathryn M. Kucsan, PhD, of Integrity Arts.

There are almost 200 nonprofit arts organizations in Boulder County (150 are in the City of Boulder, according to research collected for the recently completed Cultural Plan). Wow! That’s a lot of creativity going on.

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Along with those organizations, we also have the third highest population of working artists in the country (behind New York and Santa Fe). Half of all Americans participate in arts activities ranging from singing in a community chorus to taking a painting class to participating in a dance performance, and in the Denver Metro Area, this number is even higher. Across the board nationally, seven in 10 adults seek out arts experiences like visiting a museum, attending a concert, or going to the theater (Americans for the Arts, 2016).

The Arts Trust at the Community Foundation supports many of these local organizations with small annual grants that help them with general operating expenses. This funding keeps ballet dancers in pointe shoes, helps to market orchestral performances, supports music education outreach in Title I schools, buys art supplies for kids, and so many other arts activities that our organizations are involved in.

What are the benefits to making art, participating in activities that foster creative self-expression? We know, for example, that making music at a young age supports learning in other areas (math, languages), and art-making of any sort helps to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. But as we grow out of childhood, most of us buy into the idea that only certain people – the most talented of us – should continue making art. Along the way, we lose our connection to our creativity, we buy into the idea that the winners of American Idol or The Voice are the only ones who can really sing and the rest of us should sit on the couch and watch them. Only a few of us can rise to star level, so the art that the rest of us create is just not good enough to share.

Here’s where our nonprofit arts organizations come in. In addition to creating and producing art and performances, most of our arts organizations also offer educational programming for anyone interested, regardless of background, age, or financial circumstances. This is game changing for a community, because what gives a region vibrancy is the level of arts participation going on – at any age, any ability. The Boulder County Arts Alliance lists about 20 daily arts opportunities or events on their online calendar. That’s a lot! Don’t buy into the American Idol mentality. Sure, watch the show, but go to The Dairy or hear the Boulder Phil or visit artists at Open Studios or take piano lessons or audition for a part in a play. Our community is rich with opportunities to be creative – for a lifetime!