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Arts leaders tell FRAC arts funding drives tourism, education and economic growth
Summary
Representatives from Greater Columbus Arts Council, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Symphony and others told the Funding Review Advisory Committee that sustained, predictable arts funding underpins tourism, education programs and workforce development and urged preservation or expansion of dedicated cultural funds.
Leaders of Columbus arts and cultural organizations told the Funding Review Advisory Committee that sustained public funding is essential to support arts education, tourism and the city’s broader economic competitiveness.
Speakers including Jim Negron of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Jennifer Leahy of the Columbus Museum of Art, Maureen O’Brien of the Columbus Symphony, Maureen O’Brien, Susan Bradford of the Lincoln Theatre, and Katie Coy of Jazz Arts Group described how public support enables free community programs, school partnerships and national exhibitions that bring visitors and revenue to Central Ohio.
The arts sector framed funding both as a quality-of-life investment and an economic strategy. Jim Negron of the Greater Columbus Arts Council said the arts sector supports more than 13,000 jobs and cited a $322,000,000 annual labor income figure; Jennifer Leahy highlighted museum programs that serve thousands of students and bring visiting tourists to the region. Katie Coy, chief executive officer of Jazz Arts Group, said public and philanthropic support acts as “a shield” in a volatile national funding environment and allows local organizations to offer free or low-cost programming and to pay artists fair wages.
Other testimony connected arts funding to visitor spending and talent attraction. Maureen O’Brien, chief executive officer of the Columbus Symphony, pointed to cultural investment as a factor that helps cities attract corporate relocation and high-skilled workers. Johanna Terrell of the Columbus Fashion Alliance urged FRAC to consider how culture drives “heads and beds” and retail tax revenue when the committee evaluates revenue allocation from tourism-related fees.
Speakers urged the committee to preserve or dedicate a portion of tourism-related revenues to arts and cultural programming, citing existing local mechanisms that currently support arts groups. Several speakers noted that arts organizations leverage public funds to attract private philanthropy and that inconsistent funding undermines long-term partnerships and education programs in K–12 schools.
The Funding Review Advisory Committee received the testimony as part of its larger review of funding options; no formal funding decisions were made at the session.
