Opinion: As Trump ends support for arts, cities must take the initiative

A rendering of the Jacobs Performing Arts Center which will open in September in the Arts District Liberty Station File photo courtesy of NTC Foundation The outlook for federal assistance of the arts is not encouraging The start of the Trump administration saw mass resignations from the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees and the President s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities The National Foundation on the Art and Humanities closed its activity of grants to underserved communities and exhibitions across the country were canceled Almost all funding for federal agencies responsible for arts and lifestyle has been cut Now all arts organizations in San Diego and other cities are scrambling for donations The good news if one can look at the world this way is that the absence of leadership in the arts at the federal level shifts the responsibility to uphold creativity and inclusion to our cities and communities As nations states and cities reinvent themselves for a vastly different economic landscape embracing creativity and innovation is no longer optional it s essential Fortunately multiple cities and particular states are paving the way to the new creative financial market because they know that a dynamic system that fuels advancement by harnessing the power of imagination innovation and practices is the pathway to future jobs wealth and wellbeing San Diego for example officially launched a cultural planning process called A Creative City in an effort to capture the power of our a great number of traditions ecologies and creative capital to propel our city and trans-border region forward as a more equitable place of inspiration and prosperity City planners including Jonathon Glus director of the Commission for Art and Custom described this effort as creating a future for San Diego where art and heritage advance the dialogue advancement and diversity of our city Residents of San Diego the greater metropolitan area and the multiple nations that call this region home are encouraged to lend your voices and vision as artists heritage workers and creatives defining our future as a dynamic global city San Diego s plan looks promising and is impressive Other communities have made similar investments in the human and financial tools necessary to equip their citizens with the skills and mindset needed to handle a rapidly evolving knowledge-driven world These cities know that a creative society cultivates vibrant cultural spaces that attract and retain the talent necessary for innovation Ed Lee former mayor of San Francisco once reported Cities at present are the engines of the greatest surge in innovation creativity and concern solving in human history and cities that think of themselves as platforms will become stronger attract better talent and become smarter from the bottom up In in contemporary times s financial sector success is no longer measured solely by industrial output or financial markets Innovation is the new currency But to foster innovation we need creativity Rebuilding any city from housing and infrastructure to teaching and ability systems is a massive undertaking But creating a knowledge city or a creative group is just as complex To succeed in the creative market we must rethink urban design development and region engagement Theresa Cameron a former operation manager at Americans for the Arts argues that one way to serve a society is by forming arts and beliefs districts Such districts filled with art galleries theaters music venues society performance spaces restaurants caf s and retail shops can serve as incubators for creativity and magnets for talent These vibrant environments foster the kind of innovation that cities need to remain competitive in the modern business activity Cities must take action to Empower citizens to take ownership of their communities Build world-class broadband infrastructure to advocacy digital and creative industries Revamp coaching systems to prepare the next generation for careers in the creative market system These ingredients are crucial for attracting the bright inventive minds who will generate new patents design innovative products and develop the marketing and financial strategies to bring them to territory Embracing the creative business sector is not just about fostering a flourishing arts scene it s about securing our economic social and political dominance in the st century Innovation and creativity are the driving forces behind new industries world-changing technologies and the jobs of the future The message is clear If we fail to adapt we threat being left behind But if we embrace creativity we can build a future defined not by economic stagnation but by endless possibilities John Eger is professor emeritus in the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University Previously he served as legal assistant to FCC Chairman Dean Burch telecommunications adviser to President Gerald R Ford and senior vice president of CBS Worldwide Enterprises