Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 2:28 pm

Art is essential. That is the message the new organization called "Arts in Rutherford" hopes to show the public in the coming years.
 
AIR was created in light of Rutherford County’s Three-Star program coordinated through the State’s Department of Economic & Community Development. Three Star aims to promote a higher quality of life in Tennessee communities. AIR was created to promote the arts and to educate residents of Rutherford County about the importance and relevance of arts to economic and community development.
 
The AIR council will serve as an umbrella for all arts groups and those interested in promotion of the arts in the county. The council plans to aid in the continued economic growth of Rutherford County through promotion of, and education about, the visual and performing arts. The council includes representatives from the Business Education Partnership of Rutherford County, the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, local government, arts organizations, businesses, and educational institutions.
 
“Rutherford County has been a Three-Star community since 2007. Organizations like AIR not only enable our community to access supplementary funding through grants, but also preserve the unique qualities that define Rutherford County,” said Chassen Haynes, Director of  Government Affairs & Community Development at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

According to national research done by Americans for the Arts, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion nationally per year.

The total economic activity of this industry has a significant national impact, generating 5.7 million full-time equivalent jobs, $104.2 billion in household income, $7.9 billion in local government tax revenues and $9.1 billion in state government tax revenues.

The results of this study demonstrates that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is an economic driver in communities—a growth industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism.

Since September 2009, the AIR council has met to develop a plan to promote the arts in the county though networking, arts education and a central website with information about the many local arts organizations, artists, arts related events and businesses.
 
For more information about AIR, please contact Lee Rennick at (615) 278-2008.