STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE COLLEGE

June 18, 2009
 
Dear CARTA Faculty:
 
On June 12, 2008, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) published Artists in the Workforce: 1990-2005, the first nationwide look at artists' demographic and employment patterns in the 21st century. (http://www.arts.endow.gov/research/ArtistsInWorkforce.pdf)  The NEA's report profiled 11 artist occupations, including actors; announcers; architects; art directors, fine artists and animators; dancers and choreographers; designers; entertainers and performers; musicians; photographers; producers and directors; writers and authors. NEA Chairman Dana Gioia summarized the reports as follows: "Artists now play a huge but mostly unrecognized role in the new American economy of the 21st century. This report shows how important American artists are to both our nation’s cultural vitality and economic prosperity of our communities."
 
The Report's Key Findings

•Artists are twice as likely to have a college degree as other U.S. workers.
•Two million Americans describe their primary occupation as artist.
•The aggregate income for all artists in the US is approximately $70 billion annually.
•Florida is ranked third in the nation for the total number of total artists (106,925)
•Florida is ranked fourth in the nation for the total number of architects (9,675)
•Florida is ranked fourth in the nation for the total number of designers (39,345)
•Florida is ranked fourth in the nation for the total number of photographers (7,125)
•Florida is ranked third in the nation for the total number of actors (1,585)
•Florida is ranked third in the nation for the total number of fine artists, directors, animators (12,305)
•Florida is ranked second in the nation for the total number of entertainers and performers (5,410)
•Florida is ranked third in the nation for the total number of producers and directors (7,450)
•Florida is ranked second in the nation for the total number of announcers (4,185)
•Florida is ranked fourth in the nation for the total number of dancers (2,210)
•Florida is ranked fourth  in the nation for the total number of musicians and singers (11,090)
•Florida is ranked fifth in the nation for the total number of writers and authors (6,545)

Clearly, the arts and design are core pursuits necessary for the cultural and economic viability of the nation. And in preparation for a change in leadership in the College, I propose that through a series of consultations, focus group discussions, and meetings involving college administrators, faculty, students, and staff we examine our mission, vision, values, and strategic goals, along with performance indicators, budgetary implications, and impacts for the next five years.
 
The process of developing the College’s plan ensures that our goals and objectives will support the University’s strategic plan and that the goals and objectives of the individual units fully support the College.
 
I look forward to your feedback and hope to begin preliminary discussions of this essential task as soon as possible.
 
Collegially,

Brian Schriner
Interim Dean
College of Architecture + The Arts

Related Materials

Aug 8 2009 New Endowment Chairman Sees Arts as Economic Engine

Aug 4 2009 Miami-Dade cultural groups to fight for funds (Miami Herald, August 4, 2009)

Why the Arts Matter and Deserve Support, Especially in Bleak Times (Miami Herald, July 26, 2009)

Report on the Task Force on the Arts, Harvard University 2008

Text of Michelle Obama's Speech at the Metropolitan Museum's Ribbon Cutting (May 18, 2009)