Historical October 1984 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
When one speaks about the arts it may bring to mind a high society affair that mainly involves the rich and influential. So, when one speaks about a tax increase that will benefit the arts and cultural organizations, many people may tend to turn an apathetic ear.
The truth is that the arts are for everyone and the West End Neighborhood Arts Council was established to bring art programs into the neighborhood for the enjoyment of everyone.
The Arts Council has sponsored concerts featuring the David Hines Quintet, Trio Cassatt, St. Louis Brass Quintet, the Missouri Blue Grass Band; as well as performances by the Opera Theatre, the Muny Student Project Company, the Off Track Dancers, the Mid America Dance Company.
The organization has also been responsible for visual art programs that brought a major piece of sculpture to Four Corners, art workshops on puppeteering, and the Young Peoples Scholarship Fund which has sent over fifty neighborhood children to classes at the St. Louis Art Museum.
These are only a few of the programs brought directly to the neighborhood.
It is the Art Council’s belief that these programs enrich the lives of the young and old alike.
The St. Louis Arts and Humanities Commission has been the backbone organization that has provided support for cultural organizations for city neighborhoods.
The Commission has fostered art and cultural activities enriching the lives of the citizens of St. Louis.
The people will have the opportunity on Nov. 6, 1984, to expand support for arts and cultural organizations.
This support is via the Hotel Room Tax.
This 3/4 cent increase will be applied to the promotion of tourism.
The tax will be paid by visiting hotel guests and will fund the Convention & Visitors Commission and the Regional Cultural & Performing Arts District.
The passage of this tax increase will create an eleven member Convention & Visitors Commission which will assume tourism promotion and will receive 11/15 of the total tax income. Also, a fifteen member Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission will receive the remaining 4/15 of the total tax.
These funds will be used to support arts and cultural organizations in neighborhoods in the city and county.
This increase will provide the much needed funding for the organizations that do not benefit from the Zoo/Museum district.
It is calculated that this tax would more than double the existing budget of the existing Arts and Humanities Commission. Jill McGuire, the new executive director of the Arts and Humanities Commission, states, “The citizens of St. Louis will benefit by having better arts and cultural organizations with a tax paid by visitors to the area.” Jill goes on to say that by having a stronger Convention & Visitors Commission, the St. Louis Arts can be promoted more on a national level. St. Louis arts are a key to the area’s attractiveness as a tourist destination, as well as enriching the lives of all residents.
The Arts Council strongly feels that the arts are a main contributor to the quality of our lives and it unequivocally supports the Hotel Room Tax.
Original photograph caption
The David Hines Concert at Four Corners sponsored by the West End Neighborhood Arts Council and partially- funded by the St. Louis Commission on the Arts & Humanities. The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1984, page 3. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1984.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1984_10.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
