March '10 Arts—Audrey Roberts' Las Vegas Art Scene Column

SAVE the ARTS and Education

Feb. 13th 2010 – STATE MEETING—Interim Financial Committee. Testimony by Audrey Roberts, President of ARTV. www.artvawards.com 1-702-242-8811

G
ood afternoon everyone. My company is ARTV a 17-year Nevada Corporation. I specialize in the “The international promotion & marketing of ART” for profit, and use the funds to educate, by producing events & TV programs for the public.

And I have a plan!

I want to bring to your attention an alternative & viable means of creating an income source through the arts, instead of cutting back on programs. Portions of this revenue could be used as additional funding for all educational programs.

I believe that Nevada has an underdeveloped GOLD MINE that has yet to be tapped. The Casinos already profit from the entertainment value of the arts and are just beginning to capitalize off the investment of fine art with exhibitions. They have finally realized the fine arts are real tangible products that have value and should be exploited.

Co-ordination of a PR campaign and adjustments within our existing programs, and granting guidelines, should be made to produce profits within the state.

There is a place on the ART MECCA MAP for NEVADA along with, other cities Like NY, SF, LA, Miami & Santa Fe. We simply have to tell the world about our art production, creating with a new IMAGE “with the emphasis on ARTS & Entertainment.”

What does the state of Nevada produce? What do we export? What do we manufacture? What can we deliver to the world that people can order by phone, or on the Internet? ARTS & CRAFTS. Like Silver & Gold, our artisans are natural resources. We do not have to wait for tourists to show up. By instituting the correct marketing & promotional techniques being used by international experts in the industry, we should export these goods and bring money into our state. There are probably more artists in the state than soldiers in the military—NOW that’s POWER and that equals money.

Instead of spending millions on funding artists for public art or exhibits, these funds can be re-directed into ART Production for mass distribution. Catchy themes of artworks, crafts in all mediums, can be inexpensively produced and sold abroad, or to visitors wishing to tour ART facilities, when they do arrive.

Here are two examples:

In Sept. 2008, a living artist set a world record in London auctioning a single work of Art for $100 million dollars when the banks were failing.

ON Feb. 5th 2010, a second world record was made at a Sotheby auction in London. 104.3 million dollars for a GIACOMETTI sculpture that was made in the 1960s. Broke another world record. ALL during a recession. Obviously, collectors feel safer putting their money on their walls than in the banks. WHY is this happening?

In England & Scotland, their non-profit organizations are funding collectors, interest-free loans, to buy art! This single program has stimulated $180 million dollars in sales of contemporary artworks over the last few months, through a program partnering with galleries & artists, called www.OWNART.com/uk

Picasso Painting sold in NEW YORK for $104.1 million.

It’s time that our State leaders focus on building the arts industry in NEVADA which have many benefits for everyone. It’s profitable, educational and entertaining. The themes that the casinos use to attract tourists on the strip, all started in the minds of artists before it got to the drawing boards, which in turn has had a huge impact on our economy.

While filming in CHINA 8 years ago, I could not believe how big their factories were and how much they were producing. They figured out that manufacturing arts & crafts was not expensive, combined with 21ST century technology as a marketing tool. This concept has put them in a very competitive position on the world stage.

Utilizing our given resources, like abandoned buildings, as art production houses/factories, and creating jobs for the unemployed, can certainly pump up the volume. EXPORTATION of these goods is the key element to bring revenue into the state. This concept worked during WW II, only the products were different. America recovered from the great depression and won the war. People want to work, and the mark up on artworks is tremendous.

I truly believe the creative class is the new middle class, which is the backbone of any nation. In closing, by promoting, producing, and marketing these assets to the world, and spotlighting our own artists, we would generate the attention of collectors, distributors, designers, tourists and open other outlets to buy our goods, and adding quality guests to tour our state.

PR—Promotion—Production = PROFITS—Progress—Peace!