Planning Stage

	Literature Review Return to Literature Review Arts & Culture and the Quality of Life in Michigan – Part I: The Influence of the Arts and Michigan's Anchor Organizations Date 1996, October Purpose of Study This study focused on Michigan's anchor arts organizations and their impact on the quality of life. In particular, the following three areas were assessed. The effect that the arts have on "the ability of people (especially students) to learn basic skills," and "to solve problems creatively," especially in the workplace. Arts and Culture and the Quality of Life in Michigan – Part I: The Influence of the Arts and Michigan's Anchor Organizations. (Detroit: Wayne State University, Center for Arts and Public Policy – College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, 1996). The effect of arts and cultural activities on crime reduction. The effect of arts and cultural activities on the improvement of social cohesion. Methodology Archival data: Relevant case studies used to assess programming offered in Michigan. Anecdotes related to each section: the arts and creativity, the art and crime, and the arts and community development. Descriptions of the arts and cultural programs offered in Michigan that enhance the quality of life issues mentioned above. Results Good example of relating programming to core values, education, reduction in crime and community development. Results from the survey: 100% of the executives of the anchored arts organizations and 96.89% of the patrons of those organizations agreed that "the arts and culture organizations contribute to the quality of life in the community." The last section includes a survey that was distributed to the audiences and administrators of the anchored arts organizations, which includes questions on the arts and their relationship to quality of life. Assessments Each section of the study begins with universal statements of the importance of the arts (goals), and it gives the reader the impression that the study will demonstrate evidence that Michigan is achieving those goals. What proceeds these statements are archival data-studies, magazine articles and brief descriptions of the programs offered in Michigan that relate to each goal. The study appears to falls short as a study. It is more like a paper on the effect of arts on quality of life issues and how programming in Michigan's anchor organizations has these outcomes in mind. Also, the study is lacking in quantitative data. Survey of the audiences and administrators of the anchored organizations. The survey instrument includes questions in regards to the arts and quality of life. Section on the arts and community development may be useful for defining culture. Return to Literature Review