Education is the best Marketing

The more I consider the field of Arts Marketing the more I see the flaws in it.  I feel our first major failure starts in the Education system.  I realize that a lot of schools do not provide large budgets for the Arts and this is a major problem (especially considering all the social and educational benefits they have been proven to provide).  How can we expect children to be excited and engaged with the arts if they are never made a priority in their lives?  The sheer lack of time given the Arts each week in the classroom sends a message to parents and children alike that the Arts should not take up a lot of time and that they are not valuable.  If children were instilled with a healthy education of the Arts (which for me is what shapes our culture) imagine the difference in the field.  Children wanting to go and see a production or to the museum and in turn taking their parents or grandparents with them generates a generational interest in the Arts.

                                                 

This is somewhat idealistic and I realize that but I cannot help thinking that the job of Arts marketers begins with education.  Why would someone want to come and see something they knew nothing about or thought was above them?  Teaching people from an early age to love the Arts begins a lifelong relationship with the Arts but also the institutions that support them.  Imagine being so swamped with customers you had to manage the overflow and not beg for people to come in.  This would lower costs and make the Arts an increasingly affordable way to spend one's time.  People want to do something engaging that they feel connected to- at least I do.  For that reason I feel a lot of the current disinterest in the arts (about 80% of the population) comes from a lack of connection and education.  No system is perfect and obviously not all students will be interested in the Arts but the potential percentage of people that would enjoy the arts and does not even know what is out there to be experienced yet is overwhelming.  

It is a cycle: if we market the Arts to students through education early on in life imagine how much more meaningful the ads that markets use will mean.   The range of audience you would be marketing to would grow exponentially.  

That being said:  This Christmas Season Gerry Fagan along with Dr. Kevin Rutledge will be hosting a performance of Handel's Messiah.  Two weeks prior to the performance there will be a chance to come and understand the music and theology of the music.  This is a great way to get people interested and engaged- education.  More details coming soon! 

Here is an opportunity to see some great local and international talent in addition to learning and understanding a classical piece of music!