Arts Alliance Launches ArtsCount on Sept. 18

Written By Nicole Manvel
Community Relations Manager
University Musical Society making the region a wonderful combination of small town charm and big city sophistication.

On Sept. 18, the Arts Alliance will officially start counting how many artists (literary, performing, and visual) live and work in Washtenaw County. ArtsCount is the snappy name for this undertaking and ArtsCount.org is where creative folks of all types can go to “raise their hands” and be counted.

So, why count artists? Well, let’s turn the question around slightly and ask,”Why do artists count?”

Artists count because they are the foundation, the building blocks, the raw material of the arts and cultural community that we value in Washtenaw County. Performing artists (actors, dancers, storytellers, etc.) delight us or move us to tears at the Purple Rose Theater and Performance Network. Visual artists (mural painters, photographers, sculptors, etc.) enliven our streetscapes and enrich the walls of our homes. Literary artists (poets, writers, playwrights, etc.) remind us of our innermost feelings and help us to understand those of others.

We need to count artists because they’re often an invisible community and it’s impossible to judge the health of this sector without knowing who’s here. That’s important to business because artists have the skills that are desperately needed in the 21st century: the ability to think out of the box, to solve problems creatively, and to connect people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Artists create the stimulating environment that lures smart companies and the talented people who work in them to a destination.

So if you’re creative or know someone who is, visit ArtsCount.org between September 18 and October 31. We want to count you! For more information about the Arts Alliance and its mission to strengthen Washtenaw County’s creative community, contact Tamara Real at artsalliance@annarborchamber.org or visit www.a2artsalliance.org.

--- This article was orgionally posted on The Arts Alliance web site; http://www.annarborchamber.org/community/arts/Arts_Articles/