{"id":61537,"date":"2018-03-18T12:34:45","date_gmt":"2018-03-18T12:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=61537"},"modified":"2018-03-19T20:46:59","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T20:46:59","slug":"letter-to-the-editor-we-can-grow-our-economy-by-building-the-arts-and-culture-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=61537","title":{"rendered":"Letter To The Editor | We Can Grow Our Economy By Building The Arts And Culture Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Editor,<\/p>\n

Whenever something bad would happen to me as a child, my very wise Puerto Rican grandmother would comfort me by saying, \u201cNo hay mal que por bien no venga.\u201d From bad things good things can come, or in other words, \u201cEvery cloud has a silver lining.\u201d \u00a0After experiencing two Category 5 Hurricanes this past year and witnessing all the destruction they have caused, I often think about my grandmother\u2019s words of solace.<\/span><\/p>\n

After attending a Cultural Recovery Summit sponsored by Senate President Myron Jackson a couple of weeks ago, and listening to a recent hearing held by the 32<\/span>nd<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Legislature\u2019s Committee on Workforce Development, Consumer Affairs and Culture, I struggle to find the silver lining of the impact that Hurricanes Irma and Maria has had on our cultural resources in the Virgin Islands. These natural events have highlighted the lack of accessibility of those resources and raised questions about the stewardship of culturally and historically important structures, antiquities and art that have been acquired or gifted to the people of the Virgin Islands.\u00a0 In addition, the focus on the monetary value rather than on the cultural value of these resources do not take into consideration the basic ethics and best practices of organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as I listened to my former boss, Dr. Richard Kurin,\u00a0<\/span>Acting Provost and Under Secretary for Museums and Research at the Smithsonian Institution speak at both the\u00a0<\/span>Cultural Recovery Summit\u00a0<\/span>and the legislative hearing, I couldn\u2019t help but feel optimistic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0He reinforced the many lessons I learned during my graduate studies in Arts Administration and Museum Studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0He also reminded me of the dedication and generosity of the people who work within the arts and cultural management fields,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>many of whom are eager to support our recovery efforts here in the territory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes we hear the question: why should we care about the arts, historic preservation and cultural resource recovery in the Virgin Islands when essential institutions such as our hospitals and schools need all the attention they can get right now?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Priscilla Hintz Rivera Knight<\/p><\/div>\n

I admit, as an arts administrator, cultural advocate, and curator, I\u2019m a little biased when it comes to this topic. And I don\u2019t think that I need to convince most Virgin Islanders of the intrinsic value that our arts and cultural resources have to our community\u2014we experience it through our carnivals, music, food and traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, we don\u2019t always realize the economic benefits of a vibrant arts and culture industry, even as we must be careful not to focus solely on what these things can provide the territory financially. More intangible benefits like a boost in civic pride and an empowered, confident community are incalculable. We must convince our government leaders that investing in our arts and cultural assets can benefit all. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Virgin Islands is one of the few jurisdictions under the U.S. flag that has never done a comprehensive arts & economic development study. Globally, the arts — including folk arts, crafts, dance, theater, visual arts, media arts, performing arts, music, cultural institutions, historical & heritage programs, literary arts, architecture, and design \u2013 drive hundreds of billions of dollars of economic growth.\u00a0 Yes, Billions of Dollars!<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are just a few statistics from a variety of different sources including the Americans for the Arts, the American Alliance of Museums, and the National Endowment for the Arts, just to name a few:<\/span><\/p>\n