Should we be concerned?

With the closing of the Fine Arts Center, our downtown art galleries have shrunk to a frightening low number. At one time we had 15; now the total is a third of that. The death of our professional art scene appears imminent.

It is a common pattern that artists move into an urban area that is undesirable, like downtown Central Avenue was 25 years ago. They create galleries and apartments. They attract restaurants and other shops. Then, when the rents get too high, the artists move on.

If this is such a common occurrence, why should we be concerned?

We should care because the galleries and Gallery Walk are still the heart of downtown Hot Springs. For more than 25 years the dealers have been exhibiting art from around the world and providing free refreshments to guests on the first Friday of every month. This event draws locals who rarely go downtown, as well as out-of-town tourists. I don't have statistics on the number of people who come to our city for Gallery Walk, but every month I meet new folks from Texas, Missouri and Tennessee.

The demise of the galleries is not an accident. For years we have watched charities piggyback on Gallery Walk for big events downtown. Attendees take up most of the street parking and often stop in a gallery for a free glass of wine. They don't even look at the art before they go on to their function. Even worse, every charity event sells original art at prices that undercut the galleries.

Why spend $500 when you can buy a similar piece for $35, even if it cheats the artists and dealers of fair pay?

As bad as the random charity events are for the gallery scene, there is something even worse. For three months now, major arts organizations have sabotaged Gallery Walk. This summer the Cultural Arts Alliance scheduled a free Shakespeare play during Gallery Walk, followed in September and October by the Jazz Society holding a big concert and the Documentary Film Festival setting their Grand Opening -- all during Gallery Walk.

Everyone in the art community knows when Gallery Walk is. It has been the first Friday night of the month for over 25 years. Obviously these groups think their convenience is more important than the life of the art galleries who led the way for all of the other arts events.

The visitors bureau has spent very little money to advertise the galleries, even though statistics show that cultural tourists spend up to four times more than other visitors. Hot Springs has gotten a lot of free coverage for the arts, like being listed No. 4 in John Villani's "100 Best Small Art Towns in America." When the new convention center opened, it was the art that got attention. Why don't we have regular ads for our art scene throughout the central U.S.?

For those who don't know me, I am an artist with international credentials. I have supported myself with my art for 45 years. I love Hot Springs, but my last four paintings have sold outside of this area. I have a great house, a wonderful studio and the best art students in the world, but if I were younger, I would be looking for someplace to move that would make my art career easier.

Many artists have already moved away and others have gotten full-time jobs to pay the bills. If Hot Springs doesn't start supporting the local galleries, the rest of our painters, sculptors and gallery owners will leave for someplace that appreciates them. That would be a tragedy for downtown Hot Springs.

Editorial on 09/25/2016

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