Thriving communities across America recognize that cultural activities are key attractors for talented workers and visitors, and provide a boost to the economy. In York County, the arts brought over $14 million in economic impact in 2018. As the Cultural Alliance of York County approached its 20th anniversary and prepared for a change in leadership, the staff and board of directors evaluated how to best sustain their support of the arts community into the future.
Through grants from the Charlotte R. Langione Fund and the Walter B. Loucks-Michael Alan Bose Arts Fund at YCCF, the Cultural Alliance held empathy interviews with 25 York County artists from various backgrounds and an ideation session with 43 artists to get feedback and hear what would benefit York’s arts community the most. The major theme that emerged from these interviews was that the most talented artists feel they need to leave York to continue to grow as artists and be paid a market rate for their skill.
These findings will be the basis for a new funding model being developed by the Cultural Alliance to be implemented in 2020, allowing the organization to continue to enrich the lives of all York County citizens through the arts.
Transforming our cultural sector is the type of strategic and exciting work YCCF donors support when they partner with us.
“ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT ARTISTS FACE IN YORK IS COMMUNITY PERCEPTION OF THEIR VALUE. WHEN THE COMMUNITY VALUES THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR ARTISTS, WE WILL SEE A RISING TIDE THAT LIFTS ARTISTS OF ALL LEVELS IN YORK.”
— KELLEY GIBSON, PRESIDENT, THE CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF YORK COUNTY
