U.S. Conference of Mayors Hold Forum on Arts for Next Administration
11.07.2008From the Americans for the Arts monthly e-newsletter
On October 3, 2008, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) held a forum on Arts & Tourism in Palm Beach, FL. Speakers included Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Manuel Diaz.
Recommendations from the mayors' forum will be presented to the next President of the United States during the critical first 100 days of the new administration toward the creation of a metro/national/urban agenda. Elevating the arts and tourism to a cabinet level position is included in the organization's 10 Points for America platform that recommends fundamental changes in policy under the next president.
The forum was the USCM's last in a series of events held around the country with the goal of challenging the next presidential administration to invest in America's cities and metropolitan areas — - economic engines of the nation accounting for 86 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and where more than 85% of people in the country live. The nation's arts and tourism activities are an important component of our national economy. America's nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year. And the travel and tourism's contribution to the national economy is $740 billion in direct expenditures.
In addition to their economic output, mayors also discussed federal arts funding; a cabinet-level position on culture and tourism; travel visa waivers; reforming and
modernizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); and the airline industry crisis.
For more information, contact Director of State and Local Affairs Jay Dick at jdick@artsusa.org.
