A crowd estimated by Culture Works President & CEO Denise Rehg to be in the hundreds watches as Natasha Randall (left) and Bryant Tuschl of the zOOt TheATre ComPAnY perform a scene from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" during the Rally for the Arts at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton, Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
Photo: MediaMoments.com/ Peter Wine
Dayton OH – August 5, 2009
Leora Kline of Kettering wore a couple of t-shirts to today’s “Rally for the Arts,” put on by Culture Works to draw attention to their fundraising drive, which ends this month. The base t-shirt was from ArtsDayton, a group that is the predecessor of Culture Works, that as Culture Works President & CEO Denise Rehg puts it, “went out of business in 1993! So if that’s not dedication… and she’s wearing an opera shirt on her back”
Kline says that she and her husband have been “performers and supporters of the arts for almost 30 years.”
During the rally, Rehg asked for a show of hands by those that were not affiliated with an arts group, and estimated that it was about evenly split.
With the crowd of hundreds watching and listening, Mayor Rhine McLin spoke about the area’s reputation as an arts center, citing the Regional Orchestra Players Association’s national convention, “that they were hosting right here in Dayton, Ohio. And they came from California, Texas, Vermont to Dayton, Ohio.”
Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge (center) speaks as (from left) Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin, Culture Works Board Chair Rick Stover, Dayton City Commissioner Joey Williams, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Phillip Parker, Executive Director of Ohio Citizens for the Arts Donna Collins and Stivers School of the Arts magnet coordinator Liz Whipps look on during the Rally for the Arts at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton, Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
Photo: MediaMoments.com/ Peter Wine
Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge talked about the economic power of the arts, saying, “over 5,000 residents are employed by the arts.” And while she was obviously happy about that, she added, “I only hope that these numbers continue to increase.”
Dodge acknowledged the “rush for time,”but added “I also have to thank the individuals who have contributed directly to artists and programs, such as employees at DP&L, Lexis-Nexis and just man on the street… just everybody… so you know what? Let’s rally for the arts today… Go arts!”
Following Commissioner Dodge was Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Phillip Parker who explained that while jobs are important, involvement in the community is also> “The things that you do with your family and friends and neighbors… plays a huge role in the success of people living here, working here, staying here.”
Parker spoke about the surveys that show that communities that have more to than just work are the ones that attract “great talent. And that’s always important to the business community, the people that I represent.”
Parker also talked about the idea that it’s the support of the arts, not the way it’s done that is important, saying, “whether you do it through Culture Works, or do it directly to those organizations that you love and care about, it’s all ok.”
Their time at the microphone was by design, brief, but the message was clear from all that spoke that they supported the arts, and wanted us to support the arts as well. Not just for the sake of the arts, but the sake of the community. Parker explained that very simply, saying that after they are gone, it’s too late and “starting over is much harder.“
The group then got a display of what they had been talking about as Natasha Randall and Bryant Tuschl from the zOOt TheATre ComPAnY performed part of a scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Willis 'Bing' Davis (right) applauds as Executive Director of Ohio Citizens for the Arts Donna Collins says, that when communicating to politicians you should end with 'The arts are a revenue generator in our state, how much will you invest, and how quickly can we get it done?' during the Rally for the Arts at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton, Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
Photo: MediaMoments.com/ Peter Wine
Executive Director of Ohio Citizens for the Arts Donna Collins spoke about the support the area got from local advocates such as Sharon Howard and how quickly she was ‘adopted’ by a local arts fan when she got to Courthouse Square. “We were talking about Jazz, and as Bing Davis approached from the other side of the courtyard, he said ‘now that’s Bing Davis, and he has a gallery over on Third Street.’”
Collins goes on, “How nice that someone I just met was gonna connect me with an artist. And then I had to say, Bing is world renown. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t know Bing Davis.”
Collins noted that one of the things that both the community at large and the arts community in particular should, when they are talking to the governor or other politicians add this to the end of all communications, “The arts are a revenue generator in our state. How much will you invest and how quickly can you get it done? We need your support.”
Stivers School of the Arts magnet coordinator Liz Whipps spoke about the arts in a more general way at first saying, “the arts really define who we are. They are the universal language that connects cultures and is strengthened by diversity.”
And then Whipps got into some specifics about Stivers that drew audience applause, “Our literacy scores are equal and surpass suburban schools.”
Whipps wrapped with her three “R’s”: Re-think, Re-create, and through the arts, revive. Revive ourselves and our community.”
After a few closing words from Rick Stover, the Rum River Blend band, from Troy, performed a few songs, stopping one for a photo op, or as they called it, “A Kodak moment.”
On the web:
More photos from the Rally for the Arts
Photos from the 2008 Culture Works Gala
Photos from the 2008 Rhythm in Shoes gala
Photos from the 2008 DCDC Spring Soulstice Gala
Photos from the 2008 Nutcracker Ball gala
Photos from the 2007 Rhythm in Shoes Gala
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