Real Living

According to Americans for the Arts, nationwide the arts generate $166.2 Billion in total economic activity annually. This includes over 5.7 million jobs, $104.2 billion in household income, $7.9 billion in Local Tax revenues, $9.1 billion in State Tax Revenues, and $12.6 billion in Federal Tax Revenues annually. Think about that when you peruse the prints, ceramics, spoon rings, and yes, the personalized hand painted shower curtains at the next Lakewood Arts Festival. The arts are now being touted as the economic engine that can revive dying cities, a powerful tool that impacts not only your local professional theatre or art gallery, but also the food and beverage industry, the retail industry, and finally, the Real Estate Industry.

The arts, (and I really dislike that name as it is such a pejorative term to many) are, for better or worse, coming to the fore as a way to define not only who we are as individuals, but who we are as a community. Think about when a certain organization, pre LeBron James, threatened to take their talents elsewhere. What happened? As a community we declared this should not happen. Why? Because the organization is a part of our community and as such was and is a reflection, in part, of who we are. Lakewood is the Beck Center. It is the Screw Factory, or Bella Dubby, or one of the many galleries up and down Madison and Detroit.

But Lakewood is even more than these institutions. It is also the people who see the plays, or buy the $25 print at the Art Festival then have it framed by a local framer, or go for coffee and desert after some event. In short, as far as the Arts are concerned, Lakewood is most of us. And this is something worthwhile.  When we support something that we find beautiful, or enjoyable, or, God forbid, important, we make Lakewood a better place. We make Lakewood a place worth living and celebrating.

Isn’t this what we look for when we choose a place to live? Yes there are other more real world factors such as schools, taxes, affordability, or services, but when we look for a place to call home. Don’t we want to find a place we can love? I certainly do.

Eric Lowrey

I am a Realtor working with Prudential Lucien. My wife Cindy and I have lived in Lakewood since 2004. A former hige end Pastry Chef and College Teacher, I have lived many lives. Both Cindy and I are involved with Lakewood Alive, Live Well Lakewood and The Lakewood Historical Society. We live on Waterbury road with two cats and you can usually find us sitting on our front poarch come evening.

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Volume 7, Issue 15, Posted 7:38 AM, 07.27.2011