UGA Student Presents Research on Successful Arts & Culture Councils

On June 6, 2012, UGA Masters in Public Administration student Megan Miller presented research to the Archway Partnership Executive Committee about the best practices of successful arts and culture councils.  The request for Megan’s research came from the Archway Arts and Culture Issue Work Group, which prioritized forming some type of collaborative or consortium to better market the arts.

Megan's research revealed that successful arts and culture councils use best practices commonly accepted by successful non-profits.  She noted that their boards are not made up of artists and art groups because those individuals and groups have an inherent conflict of interest.  Instead, successful councils are comprised of members of the business community with an interest and passion for advancing the arts for economic development.  She noted that the legal structure of arts and culture councils reflects their mission.  Megan's primary advice for the Archway Executive Committee was to reframe the purpose of an arts council from "doing arts better" to using the arts to advance economic development.