Published: October 11, 2008 11:43 pm         

Arts pervade Western Md.

Study shows difference locally compared to other areas across the state

Click here to listen as Martin O'Malley takes the stage for a song in downtown Cumberland on Friday as the Queen City was the state's Capital for a Day. O'Malley highlighted the arts by releasing the results of a survey which indicated the arts impact more people's lives in Western Maryland than in any other region of the state.









CUMBERLAND — It was fitting on Friday that as Gov. Martin O’Malley and members of his Cabinet proclaimed the Queen City “Capital for a Day,” things didn’t quite run on schedule.

And there was a very good reason for that. Blame it on O’Malley, who toured the heart of Cumberland’s Arts & Entertainment District, crooned a song or two on stage as he picked a guitar and ignored, to an extent, the strict schedule his staff had set up prior to his arrival. His priority? Visiting with local officials and county residents who wanted to bring up issues important to them or simply say hello.

The laid-back ambience of the state’s chief executive on a sunny October morning suited the downtown area just fine. O’Malley kick-started the event by announcing that October is Arts and Humanities Month and that it appears that the arts and humanities have more of a positive impact on Western Maryland residents than others across the state.

The announcement was the result of a September phone survey conducted by the Maryland State Arts Council of more than 800 households in which 70 percent of Western Marylanders indicated the arts touch their lives in some way.

“That’s more than any other region in the state,” O’Malley said, noting the state average response of only 58 percent.

Andréa Vernot, deputy assistant secretary with the state Division of Tourism, Film & the Arts, said her office was “blown away by the results” of the survey, the first of its kind for Maryland.

“It speaks to the quality of life,” Vernot said. “We all talk about it that way, which sounds kind of ‘wonky.’”

But the survey results speak for themselves — and serve as proof that it’s more than just talk. In Allegany County, arts and humanities are part of the way of life. Cumberland is an official Arts and Entertainment District. The city of Frostburg soon will bear that title as well.

Western Marylanders also are most likely to have purchased something that was handmade by an artist or craftsperson — 87 percent in Western Maryland compared to a state average of 70 percent.

“It’s wonderful to have statistical data that clearly illustrates the positive sentiment towards the arts in Western Maryland,” said Andy Vick, executive director of the Allegany Arts Council, in a news release. “In terms of quality of life, education, personal growth, and economic development, the importance and impact of the arts in our area is undeniable, and is woven throughout the fabric of our community.”

William Mandicott, assistant vice president at Frostburg State University and state arts council treasurer, said that Maryland, through the Arts Council, “has been the leading advocate and asset for the arts in our state for 40 years.”

Imagine Maryland, a community-based cultural planning initiative to identify opportunities and ideas to enhance access and participation in the arts in Maryland, was launched in Spring 2008. In addition to this survey, information was gathered from regional and topic-based public forums, online questionnaires, opinion leader interviews, data analysis and citizen advisory groups. The final report will be issued in February 2009.

Vernot said the survey would help state officials adjust programming and policies to cater to what Marylanders want.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.