Is Charlotte cosmopolitan? (Northwest: job, hospitals, art)

[Carolina Blue]

anifani821,

Apology accepted, and points well taken. And I certainly understand that you are not the first (and won't be the last) person to express your type of opinion regarding Charlotte and the arts. Again, as you said, we just have differing opinions. And yes, there is nothing wrong with that.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Carolina Blue

anifani821,

Apology accepted, and points well taken. And I certainly understand that you are not the first (and won't be the last) person to express your type of opinion regarding Charlotte and the arts. Again, as you said, we just have differing opinions. And yes, there is nothing wrong with that.

Thanks for responding, CB. I suspect we DO AGREE that we both want the best of the arts, education, and cultural events to flourish in this region.

[anifani821]

Info on charitable giving and cultural vitality - I have highlighted cities w/ similar MSAs to Charlotte's. Click on link for more info from the Urban Institute.


Author(s): The Urban Institute

Permanent Link: San Francisco, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Columbus, Ohio, Are Tops in Cultural Vitality Rankings


WASHINGTON, D.C., December 15, 2006 -- A first-of-its-kind comprehensive statistical portrait of cultural vitality—ranging from community festivals to financial contributions—finds metropolitan areas on both coasts and in the Midwest earning top honors. Developed by an Urban Institute research team, the portrait's seven measures illuminate the intersection of arts, culture, and community well-being.

The San Francisco region ranked number 1 on three of the measures (each reflecting activity per 1,000 residents): nonprofit arts organizations, artist jobs, and employment in commercial and nonprofit arts establishments. Washington, D.C., was tops in nonprofit arts spending and contributions. Metropolitan Los Angeles led in commercial arts establishments, while Columbus, Ohio, had the most nonprofit community celebrations, festivals, fairs, and parades.

Other metropolitan areas among the top 10 on one or more measures were Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Boston; Hartford, Connecticut; Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas; Las Vegas; Miami; Milwaukee; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Nashville, Tennessee; Nassau-Suffolk, New York; New Haven, Connecticut; New York City; Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia; Oakland, California; Orlando, Florida; Portland, Oregon—Vancouver, Washington; Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Rochester, New York; San Diego; Seattle; and West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Florida.

In creating their rankings, researchers Maria Rosario Jackson, Florence Kabwasa-Green, and Joaquín Herranz used 2003 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Urban Institute's National Center for Charitable Statistics. Their report, "Cultural Vitality in Communities: Interpretation and Indicators" scans the nation's 61 largest metropolitan areas and ranks the top 50 of these by each measure. It is available at Cultural Vitality in Communities: Interpretation and Indicators.

"Arts and culture in all of their kaleidoscopic forms can be dynamic catalysts for reviving urban neighborhoods and advancing the quality of life there," said Jackson. "Using a broad mix of measurement tools means that urban planners, community leaders, private developers, and politicians will have a richer picture of a community's cultural vitality—what it has to offer and what it may lack."

San Francisco, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Columbus, Ohio, Are Tops in Cultural Vitality Rankings

[Carolina Blue]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Info on charitable giving and cultural vitality - I have highlighted cities w/ similar MSAs to Charlotte's. Click on link for more info from the Urban Institute.

Nice find anifani821. A very good study on the role of "non-profits" and the arts. I pulled out the link to the complete study below. The charts with the complete rankings start around page 79. Charlotte looks pretty good; ranking higher than some larger cities in some categories, while of course, ranking lower than some in others. Overall, I found it to be a very interesting read.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311...l_Vitality.pdf

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Carolina Blue

Nice find anifani821. A very good study on the role of "non-profits" and the arts. I pulled out the link to the complete study below. The charts with the complete rankings start around page 79. Charlotte looks pretty good; ranking higher than some larger cities in some categories, while of course, ranking lower than some in others. Overall, I found it to be a very interesting read.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311...l_Vitality.pdf

I thought it was very enlightening. Plus, it gives a nice framework for not only measurement, but goal-setting and planning, by using the researchers' criteria. As a writer, I am not usually very impressed by newspaper articles - would rather find solid primary sources myself.

This is what I meant by "more and better" - there are things we can improve towards developing a more vital cultural scene here in CLT. Part of that does include philanthropic giving . . . but much of it means involvement at the grassroots level, from citizens who are willing to give time and talent - not just "treasure." Getting every segment of our residents involved is really what this type of progress has to be based on . . . sometimes the effort itself is as important (or even more important) than coming up with the money. Of course, leaders w/ "vision" can be key - but those leaders are often not government officials - they are the citizens!

However, I thought CLT looks on the right track, too. I know I am going to work harder at "walking the walk" by volunteering, sharing ideas and being willing to do the work at the grassroots level to help create more opportunities for involvement and growth. A little activism is a good thing!!!

[ncisgreat]

I sit on advisory boards for three arts groups in the metro. When you see what is really going on in development on the arts scene in this city, you certainly know that we are highly regarded nationally by organizations that matter, and we are headed toward incredible things.

I certainly encourage all of you to get involved like you are talking about. There are dozens of volunteer arts support groups, guilds, etc.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by vindaloo

You don't understand what I am saying. I conveyed that it was questionable whether Charlotte can accurately be judged as being or not being cosmopolitan based on the existance of this thread as MetroM had suggested. I have lived in cosmopolitian cities all my life. Your characterization of me really off the wall. I did not voice my personal opinion of whether or not I thought Charlotte was/is cosmopolitan on the posting for which you are corresponding. But,it is a cosmopolitan city. How cosmopolitan is in the eyes of the beholder. If you wish to translate what I say in my postings, please try to articulate.

My last post got out of order somehow, so I deleted it

Wanted to say, I understand exactly what you are saying and I appreciate your thoughts

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

We heard you the first time. Saying it again won't make it any more true

I think we have all moved past this . . . and I personally feel things have been summed up very well here, and the discussion has more or less moved to a positive note about volunteerism, grassroots movements, and the desire to see CLT's cultural diversity, arts and education scene flourish . . .

When I saw you had posted on this topic, I came back to read what you had written, expecting something like a list you had devised on "volunteerism opportunities" so that people can do something positive for the community if they feel strongly about the topic.

Or maybe start a new thread on that topic - volunteerism opportunities. . . ????

[ncisgreat]

We could start that thread-- there are a lot of arts and social-service volunteering opportunities.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I think we have all moved past this . . . and I personally feel things have been summed up very well here, and the discussion has more or less moved to a positive note about volunteerism, grassroots movements, and the desire to see CLT's cultural diversity, arts and education scene flourish . . .

When I saw you had posted on this topic, I came back to read what you had written, expecting something like a list you had devised on "volunteerism opportunities" so that people can do something positive for the community if they feel strongly about the topic.

Or maybe start a new thread on that topic - volunteerism opportunities. . . ????

hahaha, actually, I considered doing that, but am not really up to speed right now I'm afraid. Maybe Sunny or NCisgreat can do that for us? I do agree it is time for the discussion to move in that direction