Page 74 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Lubbock Cultural Arts Foundation:

by Stacy Keith, MA, CFRE AN INTRODUCTION

rtists create the
world around us
Athrough their craft
and unite the people who
admire it. Each medium
has the power to inspire
change. In April 2020, the
Lubbock Cultural Arts
Foundation was established
to cultivate, connect
and champion the arts
community in Lubbock,
Texas. As an organization,
we create a thriving
cultural community by
serving as a resource for
artists and collaborating
with partners to grow and
promote the “Hub City” as
a destination for the arts.

The arts impact all people in powerful
and meaningful ways. For example,
according to the Texas Cultural Trust 2019
State of the Arts Report, students with at
least one arts credit were twice as likely
to stay in school. Access to arts education
improves overall academic performance
and leads to an 11.5% increase in college
enrollment immediately following high
school graduation.

The arts are good for the economy, too,
having an enormous economic impact on
cities and states. The Lubbock Cultural
District alone had an economic impact of
$84 million, and overall, Lubbock’s arts
had an economic impact of $99,736,450 according to 2017
data by the Americans for the Arts. In addition, 310,363
people traveled to the city to attend arts and cultural
events, resulting in revenue of $14,850,282. In total, 1.9
million people attended arts and cultural events in 2017
in Lubbock!

Two statewide programs which can increase these
numbers are the Texas Music Friendly Community

74 Senior Link