2.3 Impact of arts organizations on community life

While major cultural institutions play a significant role, cultural and arts activities in neighborhoods strengthen social ties and connect residents and artists in ways that encourage both self-expression and civic engagement.  Boston’s artists and cultural institutions enrich the lives of residents, enliven the city and neighborhood life, attract visitors from one neighborhood to another, build new bridges across cultures, attract investment to neighborhood business districts, and act as a catalyst for growth.

Arts organizations also help to develop latent talents in children as well as adults, and augment educational advancement in children.

Culture Counts in Communities, A Framework for Measurement, a publication of The Urban Institute, states that the value of arts, culture and creativity in neighborhood ‘quality-of-life’ measures is a function of the artistic outcome and, more importantly, the process of creating art that involves the collaboration of a wide spectrum of people.  Based on research and work on arts and culture in 10 cities—Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Cleveland, Atlanta, Providence, Washington DC and Philadelphia—the document links the idea of community building and the importance of participation.  The report states that “…participation spans a wide array of ways in which people engage in arts, culture and creative expression.”  Data tracked in this indicator, therefore, looks at the extent and proximity of arts and cultural participation opportunities for communities, especially children.