An Agenda for Memphis
Organized support for our indigenous culture will help our city to thrive.
by A C Wharton
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As reported in the Flyer recently, a pair of successful Broadway productions and a couple of well-marketed primetime TV shows are giving Memphis some exceptionally high national exposure. Some Memphians are overjoyed for the complimentary marketing our city is receiving. Others are underwhelmed by their perceived lack of genuine Southern soulfulness.
However you regard the artistic merit of these projects, the boost to our regional tourism is undeniably positive. Having our city's name in lights in the middle of New York's Times Square is invaluable, and Memphis music and landmarks figure prominently in almost every scene of the new TNT series Memphis Beat.
Of course, our unique mystique has long served as creative fodder to artists, musicians, writers, and movie makers from around the world. Memphis is mentioned in more popular songs than any other city in America, and until recently, our primacy as a popular filmmaking location was well-known.
However, we do ourselves a disservice when other cities profit from our Memphis brand. The clearest current example is New Orleans, which beat out Memphis as the filming location for Memphis Beat because our tax incentives were simply inferior. Memphis filmmaker Craig Brewer was compelled to take his $25 million budget for Footloose to Atlanta for the same reasons.
When other states pull film and TV projects away from Memphis, they pull our city's creative workforce with them. These individuals — the writers and directors, the actors and choreographers, the makeup artists and set builders, the camera operators and graphic designers, the soundmen and recording engineers — are integral not only to our film and music scenes but to our entire creative economy. Where there is no work, they will not and cannot stay here — and we need them.
Arts and culture contribute more than $100 million annually to our city and employ more than 3,500 people. As we can see in areas like Cooper-Young and South Main, neighborhoods that boast a high concentration of artists and arts venues enjoy strong local businesses and more stable home values. This enhanced quality of life triggers an "upward spiral" of continued prosperity as more families and businesses migrate into these exciting arts districts.
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.
Shreveport, Atlanta, New York, and other cities would do anything to have the rich artistic and technical talent that Memphis takes for granted. In order to ensure that Memphis remains a city of choice for our creative class, several things must happen:
When the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes this year, I plan 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.
We must provide a continuum of support and awareness for the arts that begins in childhood. Every child in Memphis should grow up with a healthy understanding of their hometown's worldwide significance as a creative capital.
Emerging artists who are making the most exciting and challenging work of their careers should receive the ample financial, moral, and professional support they need to remain in Memphis. The city is filled with experimental, ambitious groups and collectives doing terrific work, from Collage Dance Collective to Odessa to Voices of the South. Each deserves of your discovery and support.
Being an arts patron means more than writing checks or buying season tickets. It means committing to professionalizing the arts by paying artists what they are worth. No one chooses a career in the arts in order to get rich. But when hard-working artists face too many difficulties making ends meet here, they will invariably leave for cities that allow them to make a living more easily.
Memphis' brand is not its past accomplishments but its future promise. Let's seize our moment in the spotlight to invest in our creative economy and solidify our rightful position as the South's creative capital. Doing so will lead to even more economic success and more enduring — and more authentically Memphis — creative works in the future. A C Wharton is mayor of the city of Memphis.
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Mr. Mayor,
I appreciate the unique cultural contribution of Memphis to American culture. We dwarf cities like Phoenix, San Diego, Denver, etc, yet I see the Memphis Police Departments' cooperation with television programming as undermining all of that. Memphis is still dealing with the negative publicity of 'First 48'. We may be one of the top murder capitals in America, but is telling the rest of nation weekly that fact productive? Now we have 'Real Police Women of Memphis'. While the show is entertaining, as a whole Memphis comes of as a city with a vast population gripped with poverty and socially dysfunctional. All I hear is Memphis needs to be better at telling its story. Is this the story we are going with? Because between that Three 6 Mafia show on MTV a few years ago, 'First 48', and 'Police Women', we are doing a really good job parading poverty and social dysfunction.
A few final questions, MPD is responsible for 2 out of these 3 shows. Do they have to clear these ideas for TV programs through the mayor's office or can they just do it themselves? Who signs these TV contracts? Where does the revenues from these shows go?
Thank you for your time Mr. Mayor
I definitely agree with your statements. Many young artists are flocking the city. Power House, our only contemporary art gallery--which, by the way, one artist was chosen to show at the Whitney Biennial this year, closed in August of last year. We have a very limited range to showcase our work and only so many of the same audience. What can be done? It is not just about supporting but rather, participating and understanding.
I also speak of the film industry, where I do work in as well as being an artist. I do not need to reiterate the losses of productions that did not occur occur in Memphis and in Tennessee. And I commend Linn Sitler and the Memphis and Shelby County Film and Television Commission. They can do so much but the issues we are experiencing is a state problem.
Wonderful article Mr. Mayor. Until legislation is passed that makes Memphis a financially attractive place to produce film and television we all need to rally behind the artists and creative forces that decide to make Memphis their home and plan to keep it that way.
It's similar to the rising demand of local, organic foods. It allows people to have a greater community connection, it's often less expensive, it's a signature of the area, and it's unique.
We should all demand more local art, music, film, theater, dance, and more. It's amazing what you will find in Memphis and it's creative community. Not only "supporting" but enjoying the local brand will reward you with discovery, a better connection with your city, and an overall feeling of pride in Memphis.
Edward Valibus Phillips
Live From Memphis
Also, can there be more an elaboration on the agenda? I am not clear on what you are proposing, perhaps am I reading it wrong, but is only catering to film and recording projects? What does this mean for the art community?
This article relates to me as a photographer in this city... Talented artists in Memphis are very under rated and taken for granted. Something has to be done and it starts with correctly promoting this sector of the economy to the vast majority of the city. There seems to be way too much ignorance about both the economical and cultural weight art can have in any city like Memphis. All major cities like Chicago, New York, Phoenix, etc.. understand that and promote it heavily... Sadly we do not understand this in Memphis. Even though the city gets its fair share of talented artists year after year, MOST end up leaving for cities that have more incentives for them.
There is an "art district" in this city with about 2-3 galleries top thats on its way to die because not enough is done to promote it as such... young artists should be able to populate this area by having studios and galleries. Instead, it is turning to be a pure residential area! There should be help from the local government to help revitalize this district with better landscaping, attractive signs, sculptures, and galleries of all kind...
Does this mean kids will get worthwhile art and film programs in Memphis City Schools?! What about specifics on government assistance for local and small creatives? Or are we just proposing legislation that, ultimately, keeps the majority of benefits in the hands of a few Powers That Be?
Government subsidies for the arts are even more suspect than those for any other industry.
I don't recall any government subsidies needed to lure Carl Perkins here, or enable Sam Phillips, Joe Coughi, Quenton Claunch, the Bihari brothers, or Willie Mitchell to operate studios and create so many of the world's favorite recordings. Really, that's our main claim to fame. We tried incentivizing Chips Moman; and if you've forgotten how that turned out, go look at the empty fire station.
Private support is great; but throwing government at what interesting art we are producing here is not going to increase its inspiration or hit potential.
So the arts get tax breaks and other subsidies that the rest of us have to compensate for by paying more?
I appreciate your awareness of this. Thank you for making efforts to change this.
Winter,
I think you are missing the point. It isn't 1950 anymore, and we have to have competitive practices to lure the new "Carl Perkins" etc. Other cities/states understand this.
If the City of Memphis/State of TN tells someone "If you make your movie here, you won't pay sales tax." That doesn't cost the taxpayer a dime. The revenue wouldn't be here anyway if they make the movie in New Orleans. But if that movie dumps 15M into your local economy you are coming out ahead.
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