Wisconsin%20Rapids%20Community%20Theatre,%20Inc.

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Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre, Inc.

• Arts in the Community

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FACTS

• Arts contribute more than any other form of
  entertainment or recreation, direct and indirect,
  to local economy
• Each 1.00 contributed to the arts generates
  13.00 additional money in economic impact
• Tourists who come for cultural events stay an
  extra day in the city and spend 50 more
• Arts help attract new business to a city by
• attracting and fostering high-quality talent
• allowing a greater retention of entertainment
  dollars
• fostering greater diversity
• creating a vibrant city center
• There is a direct correlation between involvement
  in the arts and increased success of students
• Arts are essential to the long-term success of a
  city

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In order to be successful, an arts community must
have

• Holistic Vision
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Infrastructure

which includes

• high quality offerings
• premium institutions
• diversity of offerings
• multiple offerings for each segment of audience
• public art of great quality
• adequate venues to accommodate many types of art
• uniqueness to set the community apart

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What do we do?

• WRCT is the only organization in Wisconsin Rapids
  to offer live theatre performed by local
  residents.
• An estimated 4,000 patrons attend WRCT
  productions each year.
• Approximately 200 people are involved as cast,
  crew and volunteers on WRCTs four annual
  productions.
• Over the past 30 years, WRCT has provided a
  constant source of entertainment to greater
  Wisconsin Rapids area residents.
• From a first season of 13 performances, WRCT now
  offers over 25 performances each year. In the
  2007-2008 season, WRCT presented over 40
  performances and events, including 7 productions
  ranging from fully staged productions to staged
  play readings.
• WRCT offers performing and meeting space to
  anyone in the community

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Recommendations

• The arts and business communities need to work
  together to
• create a holistic strategy
• set specific objectives
• create regional marketing plan
• build cooperation between the arts (without
  sacrificing independence)
• engage government policy makers
• determine how much money is needed over what time
  period
• identify sources of funding (i.e., sales tax, use
  tax, bond, private sector, philanthropy)
• Include arts in all efforts to improve the city!

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Source of Information
Evaluating the Link Between Arts
Business Business case study conducted by The
North Highland Company on behalf of the Metro
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce November 29, 2001