Why rt For All

What We Hope To Accomplish

The Art for All program proposed by the Othello Public Library and the Art for All Taskforce is a series of art education, appreciation, and outreach programs designed to celebrate and promote the role of art in our community and, by extension, our library. The purpose of this exciting program is to help compensate for cuts in arts funding in schools, promote the work of local artists, bridge cultural and language barriers within our community, and foster long-term and meaningful relationships with community stakeholders.

Arts Education Funding Cuts - A Widespread Problem

Over the past few years, the Othello Public Library Board and other regional leaders have noted the disturbing trend in arts funding nationally and statewide. Both national and local arts organizations and public school arts education have suffered crippling funding cuts year after year, severely limiting children and the public exposure to art and the encouragement of artists, so integral to a flourishing culture and society. Total state arts appropriations dropped from $354.5 million in 2003 to $272.4 million in 2004, a plunge of 23 percent (ArtNet.com). In 2003, 42 states cut their funding to the arts, wiping 13% off the total amount of funds available. The Chief Executive of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) said the cuts were the result of a "national crisis in state budgets." He further stated that "in some states the impact on state arts agency funding has been devastating." In comparison to the $1.67 per capita spent on the arts by American federal and state governments, the arts in England receive the equivalent of $12.68 per capita (BBC News). In Washington State, the Washington State Arts Alliance budget was cut by 20% in 2003 (WSAA website). The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported in March of 2005 that President Bush's proposed budget included a cut of Education funding of $530 million, including the elimination of 48 educational programs that include arts education programs.

Arts Education - A Community Need

Librarians at the Othello Public Librarian became interested in the idea of doing arts programming at the library because of the concerns we had heard voiced by community members about declines in funding for art education in the schools, and the more general loss of funding for the arts. In the course of the day to day work of running the library, we see and speak with many members of the community. We have heard these concerns voiced by teachers, school administrators, school board members, parents, and local artists.

We believed that concerns in our community over cuts in arts education funding were widespread, but wanted to test that notion before we began planning programs to meet some part of the community need for art education. We identified stakeholders including the local schools, teachers, the school board, parents, students, the chamber of commerce, local businesses, local artists, and the library. We spoke informally with these stakeholders about the problem of declining funding for arts education and whether it made sense to supplement arts education in the schools with community arts programs at the library. We held two public meetings to discuss the possibility of starting a series of community arts education and appreciation programs at the library and whether arts programs should be a library priority. In these meetings and conversations we also solicited opinions and ideas about what arts programs we should consider implementing at the library, if public support was sufficient to merit proceeding with the development of arts programs at the library.

Response to the idea of arts programs at the library was very positive and community members had a lot of great ideas for programs! In the interest of continuing to involve the community in the planning process we put together the Arts For All Task Force, made up of members of the library staff and each of the identified stakeholder groups. The library staff decided that the burden of developing the new arts programs would fall on the Planning Committee, which would always have at least one library staff person representing the library on it. The purpose of this joint planning committee was to keep the community involved with an active role in every step of the planning process and to develop partnerships that would be useful for program implementation and to draw on the superior knowledge and expertise of teachers and artists in the community in developing the programs.

A Unique Opportunity For Othello, WA

Access To Art For All

Why should the public library be concerned about this trend and remedying its effects? The public library is the great equalizer, providing free and equal access to information for all. We at the Othello Public Library take very seriously our commitment to providing avenues of lifelong learning and the free exchange of ideas to our patrons, of which the arts are a very important part. The relative isolation of our rural community is such that most members of our community, regardless of ethnicity or language, do not have access to the visual arts or artists, nor do some members of our community have access to the different cultural arts and visual representations of art provided by a variety of cultures and artists. With the Art For All program, we hope to give everyone in our community the opportunity to be exposed to and learn about art. We hope to give everyone in our community opportunities to use their creativity and imagination through art, and the chance to experience the inspiration that art can bring. We see a unique opportunity here to create an elegant solution to the problem of reduced funding for arts education that brings the library together with community partners from the schools, parent groups, the local arts community, and local businesses to provide great arts program in the free meeting space at the Othello Public Library.

Bridging Cultural and Language Barriers Through The Visual Language of Art

Othello is a diverse and growing community. We have a rich cultural heritage, but also face cultural and language barriers. The library is used and enjoyed by many in the community, but not by everyone, particularly Othello's underrepresented populations. Therefore, increasing the visibility of the library and the services we provide are key goals for the Othello Public Library, now and in the future. In Othello and outlying areas, the highest priorities are meeting community challenges related to language and cultural barriers; a high rate of school drop-outs; maintaining reading and literacy standards; community growth; and migrant population representation. The Othello Public Library is passionately committed to helping our community meet these challenges head on. Currently, Othello, the public library, and community stakeholders are focused on these issues, as well as unifying our somewhat culturally divided community. We see the Arts For All Program as an opportunity to bridge cultural gaps through the universal language of art. We believe that art, especially experiential and visual art, moves beyond language.

Opportunities for Fostering Economic Growth

The Arts For All program, with the support of the Chamber of Commerce, City Council, and local businesses, could also serve to promote economic growth by drawing people to Othello from neighboring cities and towns for art events and exhibits, and drawing people from throughout the region for the Othello Annual Arts Festival. Because our Art for All program is community-based and connected to strong partnerships with local businesses, schools, gatekeepers in community groups, and community members in general, we are confident it will be influential in promoting our library and Othello as a cultural destination in Washington state.

Send Questions or Comments to: Othello Public Library