By Barbara McLachlan
Orchestra performances, plays, lectures, art museums, movies, comedy shows, concerts in the park, powwows, dances and sculptures — the arts are essential to our way of life and mental health. Art opportunities in our region are thriving, and the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado is proud to support this growth.
The foundation will address arts and culture needs across five counties and two sovereign nations with our third-quarter SPUR funding. This will help drive revenue for local businesses and strengthen our local economy. In doing so, we are sup- porting locals with an artistic bent while also addressing positive mental health and well-being.
According to a national public opinion survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, 80 percent of Americans visited or watched an arts or culture event in person within the last year. And, more than 75 percent of them said they consider arts and culture personally important, contributing to their joy, sense of well-being and creativity.
According to the same survey, about 73 percent of Americans believe arts and culture provide shared experiences with people of different races, ethnicities, ages, beliefs and backgrounds, thus making the arts a beneficial aspect of society, branching well beyond individual benefits.
An overwhelming 92 percent of Americans believe every student should have access to a quality arts education. By contrast, only 52 percent believe those opportunities are sufficient in our schools. This emphasizes the need for community-based arts events that provide space for local creativity and connection.
Across political lines, Americans strongly support government funding for the arts, with bipartisan majorities approving of local (70 percent), state (66 percent) and federal (66 percent) investments in nonprofit arts organizations and community-based arts programs.
The Community Foundation is helping to fill in some of those gaps with quarter three funding from the SPUR Fund. Here are some highlights of how this funding will benefit our community.
Regionally, funding will support:
• The Colorado 250/150 Project in recognition of the 250th birthday of the United States and the 150th birthday of Colorado.
• KSUT Tribal Radio to enhance Indigenous-specific reporting.
In Archuleta County, funding will support:
• Thingamajig Theater Company to provide professional theater productions for the community as well as educational opportunities for local children for the fall/winter season.
I am proud to be on a working board that does so much for so many. You can support this effort by donating to the Community Foundation’s SPUR Fund at swcommunityfoundation.org. We can do so much good when we all work together.
Barbara McLachlan writes for the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado.