McDowell's Task Force Leadership Highlighted by Media

Charlotte Litigation Member Valecia McDowell is currently serving as a co-chair of the Arts & Science Council’s Cultural Life Task Force.  In conjunction, McDowell served as a panelist on the June 6 edition of WFAE 90.7’s radio show “Charlotte Talks”, and was quoted in The Charlotte Observer article “Team hunting new ways to support arts” on May 29.

Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council organized the Cultural Life Task Force to find a long-term solution to the decreasing financial support for arts within the region.  The cross-community Task Force is comprised of 21 hand-appointed members who will spend seven months examining arts fundraising in other cities, with the intent of finding a best practice that can be applied in Charlotte.  The group will hold its first public meeting on June 10, and is expected to deliver recommendations by January 2014.

According to the Observer article, McDowell said that the task force is focused on long-term solutions, however its work begins immediately, as critical needs are already seen.  Examples of these needs include last year's closing of the Charlotte History Museum, private donations being used to make up for budget shortfalls that cut school bus transportation to museums and arts events for students, and the Charlotte Symphony's ongoing deficit.