Please read this commentary by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton that ran in this week's Flyer.
In "An Agenda for Memphis: Organized support for our indigenous culture will help our city to thrive," Mayor Wharton makes the case for allowing Memphis culture to fully flower by using Memphis talent, crews and locations.
As he puts it: "Memphis needs a strong cultural sector to recruit strong businesses — and for those businesses to recruit workers. I can tell you from personal experience that it is the quality of our museums, our galleries, our symphonies, and our theater and dance companies that people inquire about more than anything else before moving here."
Wharton proposes several things to improve support and awareness of the arts and the economic system to make that happen. One element he says he will do is "to pursue a strong package of tax incentives that will lure new film and recording projects to Memphis. This legislation must also include residency incentives and tax credits for cutting-edge digital artists, software developers, and new-media practitioners."
There's more in his impassioned statement.
Read it here.
