Business and the Arts

It’s an honor to be asked to participate in the annual Longmont Symphony Orchestra (LSO) superconductor contest. I have two worthy and, might I admit, intense competitors – Ruth Waukau, a volunteer at the Longmont Senior Center and Dr. Janelle Laughlin at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital. Ruth possesses a magic baton and Janelle shared her amazing singing voice at the February 23^rd LSO concert, singing a fun rendition of the Gilligan’s Island theme song.

The competition is steep. Every dollar is one vote with the winner of the competition directing the LSO in May. I would love to win!  I have several pieces in mind that would be a dream to conduct. However, in the end, no matter who wins, the true winner of the superconductor competition is the LSO. When the arts win in our community, we all win.

You’ll hear me speak occasionally about the business community being a foundational pillar to our community. Another foundational pillar is the arts community. In 2017, the Firehouse Art Center hosted an event highlighting the economic impact of the arts in our community. Partnering with the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, the event highlighted amazing numbers on the economic contribution of the arts in the Denver Metro region. The 2017 event covered data from 2015. I encourage you to take a look at the most recent report.

You’ll see the arts contributed $1.9 billion in economic activity in 2017. Fifteen million people engaged with the arts and the arts community supported 11, 820 jobs. Another thing to point out is that each of these numbers is growing. This is important, especially when you consider, according to the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, a cultural participant spends $22.50 on non-ticket items per arts experience.

In our society today, we talk a lot about diversity and what makes a person, community, state, or nation unique, but what also is happening is a homogenization of our world. “Before They Pass Away” is a book by Jimmy Nelson that caught my attention a few years ago. In our rapid societal change and globalization, some unique cultural differences will be lost. This is one reason why celebrating and supporting the arts is so important. Art can help us relive the past or inspire us about the future. It brings us together but it also sets us apart and makes our community unique.

In the Chamber we have a number of arts organizations and businesses. Two of our Leadership Longmont teams are supporting the arts for their class projects. One is working with the museum and one is working with Art in Public Places. The Chamber has also joined the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with our arts organizations and our economic partners, including the city, to fund a feasibility study for a Performing Arts/ Convention Center.

Sometimes, we have a notion that the arts world is just for artists or those with large amounts of money.  That’s not true in Longmont.  Our arts community is accessible to all and an integral part of our community. Perhaps you are like me and don’t possess much artistic talent but I think that is why I enjoy the arts so much.   I’m constantly amazed at the talents of others in our community. If I have the chance to direct the symphony, it will be a humbling experience to direct those with musical talent I don’t understand but I certainly can appreciate the beauty they give to our community.

To contribute to the Superconductor Fund:

Call the LSO office at 303-772-5796 or mail a check to:

Longmont Symphony Orchestra Superconductor Contest
PO Box 74
Longmont, CO 80502

Remember to identify Scott Cook on your donation!