City council
members and leaders in Oil City's downtown arts revitalization effort made
peace Wednesday night after some skeptical words darted toward the arts
movement last week.
While
discussing the city's 2007 economic development contributions last week,
Mayor Ed Sharp repeatedly questioned the direction of the
council-implemented arts revitalization program, wanting to make sure the
group was working toward financial autonomy.
Councilman
Neil McElwee indicated that council was not a "sugar daddy that was going
to give to them much longer" - both the arts revitalization movement and
the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism.
"There's been
a lot of miscommunication getting to us," Sharp said to arts champion
Joann Wheeler on Wednesday night. "Personally, I wanted to know where are
you at financially and where do you see this going financially and I want
to know how we can help you.
"The arts
revitalization is something that council started and I think it's a very
worthwhile project. It's not that I don't believe in the project, because
I do believe in it."
Wheeler
presented each council member with the arts movement's proposed 2007 plan
of work, a tentative budget and a listing of what her volunteer committee
has accomplished since she went aboard nearly six months ago.
Council
initially committed $15,000 for Wheeler's one-year, part-time wages as
well as $4,000 for expenses. Arts revitalization chairman Lee Mehlburger
approached council last month asking for more money so Wheeler could work
20 instead of 15 hours, as well as financial assistance to help buy a new
boiler for the National Transit Building's yellow annex. Arts members said
the boiler is a critical next step to opening the annex for a variety of
artists who need the space for studio and shop space. Mehlburger said
between six and nine people have already inquired about space in the
annex.
Wheeler and
Oil City Arts Council Chairwoman Libby Williams requested that council
members consider adding the arts revitalization program as a budgeted line
item.
"I really
would like you to find a way for annual support for the 10 years the
consultants think it will take to get this under way," Williams said. "We
will not stop looking for additional funding, but we can never be certain
that we'll get it. We need the security of knowing there will be some city
backing."
"I think
(that would be) a really great idea so we're not starting from scratch
each time. We're going to have to have something to prime the pump,"
Wheeler said, stating how council's $15,000 investment in her has been
exploded into nearly $60,000 worth of monetary and in-kind support in less
than six months.
Wheeler
already has secured a $15,000 grant for operational costs, but she told
council this week that similar grant monies for operational expenses are
tough to come by.
"That's why
this one does it," she said.
She also ran
down some of the program's successes during her tenure as arts champion.
So far, five
artists have come to look at Oil City from New York, two have come from
Louisiana, one has come from West Virginia and one is about to move here
from Ohio.
A filmmaking
festival and competition also is in the works for Oil City and a local
bank is willing to invest $1.5 million to rehabilitating city properties
that artists will be able to use.
"The arts can
have a huge economic impact because they take relatively little startup
money," Wheeler said. "We have an active arts council and a beautiful
building (with the National Transit complex serving as the project's hub).
We have people waiting to move in and there are successful programs all
over the country. ... As far as further economic impact, one study says to
expect a $3 to $4 return for every dollar spent on the arts."
Council did
not say if the arts effort would receive a budget line item in 2007, but
some members gave Wheeler high marks for her work.
"The general
public may not know what a sacrifice Joann is giving by taking this
position," Councilwoman Sandy Montgomery said. "She left a very good
position on a chance. What she has done in almost six months is
unbelievable."