South Cobb Art Alliance hosts panel discussion about art and economic development
- Patricia Auch
- Jul 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 28
One of my visions for Mableton in addition to being clean, green and litter-free to foster attractive public spaces, is a vibrant art scene. The arts are a piece to creating a cultural identity and a sense of place, as well as make Mableton more appealing to visitors. The arts can also be a tool to boosting local businesses and stimulating local economic activity. Which is why I decided to attend a discussion panel hosted by the South Cobb Arts Alliance about art and economic development.
Below is a recap of the discussion panel:
On Saturday afternoon, five members from different disciplines of the art community convened for a panel discussion about the role of art in economic development.
The arts are an important piece of economic development because, “people like to live in a place that is alive and thriving”, according to panelist Holly Quinlan, CEO of Cobb Travel and Tourism.
When you go to see the arts, you eat out and support the local community and people employed outside the arts, said panelist Timothy Verville, music director, conductor, and composer for the past 9 years for the Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
According to Verville, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra is as much a service organization as it is a performative arts organization by providing a space, “to sometimes get away from the world; sometimes to enjoy some entertainment; sometimes enrichment. Sometimes we deal with music that poses the great question of human existence.”
Verville futhur explained why the arts are Important to the community. “It’s about education, enrichment and even entertainment,” he stated.
Panelist Monika Eisenheim, development and marketing director of The Georgia Ballet, believes ballet shares similarities with the orchestra by the impact it has for the community. “We are both building the future art enthusiasts.”
Eisenheim explained that one way the arts can bolster the local economy is by “attracting people and pointing them back to restaurants.” She explained how the Georgia Ballet was able to partner and cross promote with a local restaurant alongside a ballet production of Alice in Wonderland: “Their whole place looked like wonderland - it was spectacular!” She stated how partnerships and collaborations of the arts with other businesses can give businesses access to new audiences.
Mario Robinson, founder of Uncle Art Camp, an art summer camp for children, stated how the local economy is impacted by the arts directly when supplies are bought locally. Because he buys art supplies and snacks for his camp locally, the economic revenues generated stay within and directly benefit his local community.
The panel discussion was hosted by the nonprofit South Cobb Arts Alliance (SCAA), and moderated by SCAA president Sandra Miller.
The five panelists were:
•Miles Davis, Massive Burn Studios
•Holly Quinlan, Cobb Travel and Tourism
•Mario Robinson, Uncle Art Camp
•Monika Eisenheim, Georgia Ballet
•Timothy Verville, Georgia Symphony Orchestra
