Erie County Legislature Candidate Survey 2017 |
Arts Services Initiative of WNY's Candidate Survey 2017.
If you are running in the Primary Race: Please complete by Friday, August 25th.
If you are running in the November Election: Please complete by Friday, October 13th.
The County of Erie is widely viewed as being in the midst of a renaissance, while it is also noted that for many citizens and neighborhoods significant challenges remain. As both a key contributor to the former, and a key resource for the latter, arts and culture plays a significant and unique role in Erie County’s health and future. Numerous studies and reports have shown:
-The not for profit cultural sector and its audience in Western New York has an annual economic impact that measures in the hundreds of millions of dollars (Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report);
-This sector generates tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue (Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report);
-There are over 1,800 arts-related businesses located in Erie County (Americans for the Arts 2015 Creative Industries Report);
-With the reduction of in-school visual and performing arts classes, there is greater demand for arts and cultural engagement for youth out of school and in the community;
-Arts education helps children develop higher level skills such as critical thinking and problem solving;
-The arts have a positive impact on the development of local communities and social networks;
-The arts contribute to innovation within a community;
-Arts and culture is a key component of Visit Buffalo Niagara’s tourism efforts and a frequent lead mention in national and international stories about the city;
-Cultural amenities are utilized in the attraction and retention of new economy businesses and knowledge workers to the region.
Erie County has served, and continues to serve, as a leading supporter of the cultural sector in numerous ways. As is clearly shown above, this support benefits the people of Erie County, those visiting the area, businesses located here, and county government itself. The Erie County Legislature plays a key role in county government, and therefore we ask candidates for the Legislature their thoughts on these issues.
-The not for profit cultural sector and its audience in Western New York has an annual economic impact that measures in the hundreds of millions of dollars (Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report);
-This sector generates tens of millions of dollars in local tax revenue (Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report);
-There are over 1,800 arts-related businesses located in Erie County (Americans for the Arts 2015 Creative Industries Report);
-With the reduction of in-school visual and performing arts classes, there is greater demand for arts and cultural engagement for youth out of school and in the community;
-Arts education helps children develop higher level skills such as critical thinking and problem solving;
-The arts have a positive impact on the development of local communities and social networks;
-The arts contribute to innovation within a community;
-Arts and culture is a key component of Visit Buffalo Niagara’s tourism efforts and a frequent lead mention in national and international stories about the city;
-Cultural amenities are utilized in the attraction and retention of new economy businesses and knowledge workers to the region.
Erie County has served, and continues to serve, as a leading supporter of the cultural sector in numerous ways. As is clearly shown above, this support benefits the people of Erie County, those visiting the area, businesses located here, and county government itself. The Erie County Legislature plays a key role in county government, and therefore we ask candidates for the Legislature their thoughts on these issues.