Bank of America / Merrill Lynch Breakfast Series: "The Arts" make money?!

Description

It is no secret that we have a thriving arts and cultural community here on the seacoast and that it is a significant contributor to many things including our wonderful quality of life; cultural opportunities, nightlife, live entertainment, and creative inspiration are just some of what makes the Seacoast special.

But, would it surprise you that the economy should be on this list? 

A recent national survey shows that the non-profit arts and cultural community in Portsmouth contributes at least $58 Million to our local economy!  Statewide these organizations add $128 million.  That means our remarkable Seacoast region represents nearly 50% of the total.  Now that’s impressive! 

Join The Chamber Collaborative and the City of Portsmouth’s Cultural Commission, Art Speak, at the Bank of America / Merrill Lynch Breakfast Series as we welcome Joan Goshgarian, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts and Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research and Policy at Americans for the Arts (A National Arts Advocacy Organization).
 
The two speakers will share the results of last year's AFTA Survey in Portsmouth and in several other NH Communities. The discussion should be informative and hopefully the beginning of a dialogue about how to nurture partnerships between business and the area’s many arts and cultural organizations to the benefit of all.

** A certain number of tickets will be set aside to working artists in our community at no cost** 

About Randy Cohen
Randy Cohen is Vice President of Research and Policy at Americans for the Arts.  He recently published Americans Speak Out About the Arts, one of the largest national public opinion studies about the arts ever conducted, and publishes the two premier economic studies of the arts industries—Arts & Economic Prosperity, the national impact study of nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences; and Creative Industries, a mapping study of the nation’s 703,000 arts establishments and their employees.  Randy developed the National Arts Policy Roundtable, an annual convening of leaders who focus on the advancement of American culture, in partnership with Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute. His 10 Reasons to Support the Arts blog recently received the Gold Award from the Association of Media & Publishing—their top honor for best blog post of the year. Randy has given speeches in 49 states and regularly appears in the news media—including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and on C-SPAN, CNN, CNBC, and NPR.

About Joan Goshgarian
Joan Goshgarian is the executive director of the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts.  Prior to this position, she held a variety of professional positions and managed to involve the arts in most of them.

In education, Joan developed an art therapy program for developmentally and physically challenged institutionalized adolescents and organized a traveling exhibition of their works that had its debut at the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston.  As marketing director for a real estate development company she highlighted performing and fine arts in various promotions.  As a consultant, she created and promoted a variety of special events.  

Joan has been the executive director of the NHBCA since its formation in 1985. She is responsible for developing and implementing programs designed to broaden the base of business support for the arts, as well as maintaining the business memberships and administrative functions of the organization.  Among the NHBCA programs are Lawyers for the Arts/New Hampshire and the popular Business in the Arts Awards.  In recent years, the focus of NHBCA activity has evolved to a stronger emphasis on advocating for the business and arts connection in collaboration with other organizations including The New England Council and NH creative communities efforts, The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation on Giving Matters, and various business associations and planning agencies.  She also responds to arts organizations requests to strategize possible funding sources and long-term planning.

Joan’s board service includes a long stint on the board of the NH Center for Nonprofits and its former iterations. She was president of the The Friends Program during her six-year board tenure, also served six years on the board of NH Public Radio and is currently vice president of the community advisory board of NH Public Television.