York, PA – The Cultural Alliance of York County (Cultural Alliance) and York County Economic Alliance (YCEA) have launched a first draft of a new, interactive map of the businesses, experiences, sites, and organizations that comprise the county’s arts, culture, and outdoor recreation amenities. Via a county-wide survey, businesses and organizations have begun sharing details to help us understand the Outdoor and Cultural ecosystem in York like never before, including where they’re located, what they do, their service area, intended audience and funding sources, as well as interconnectivity and partnerships between one another.
This new map is part of a larger, countywide effort to grow support and awareness of arts, culture, and outdoor assets. The Cultural Alliance and YCEA will publish the full plan in coming months, including a summary of analysis and interviews, case studies of arts and culture funding and governance programs in similar counties, and a plethora of recommendations for York’s path forward in better supporting arts, culture, and outdoor assets.
“York County’s creative and outdoor economies already make significant contributions to employment, GDP, talent and business growth,” said Kevin Schreiber, President and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance. “This visualization and our findings should aid in further grow of both sectors by leveraging expanded investments in arts, culture and the outdoors.“
“Having a visual map of the wealth of cultural and outdoor businesses and organizations which contribute to our York economy is the first step in better understanding what kind of resources we need to fully support this sector” Kelley Gibson, President, Cultural Alliance of York County.
The economic impact of the cultural sector will be presented at the YCEA’s Economics Club breakfast on Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30am. Kelley Gibson, President of the Cultural Alliance of York County, and Karl Blischke, Executive Director of PA Council on the Arts will present. Tickets and details are available here.
Do you run or manage a cultural, arts, or outdoor recreation organization or company in York County? This ecosystem map is a living, breathing document, intended to consistently receive new additions and connections that represent a variety of happenings within York County. Reach out to us at Rita@culturalyork.org or click here to fill out the survey and get on the map before it closes on August 14th!
The Cultural Alliance of York County is South Central Pennsylvania’s only United Arts Fund, fueling the creative energy and vibrancy of our community through Leadership, Collaboration, and Sustainability in order to enrich the quality of life of all of our citizens. The Cultural Alliance works to create a thriving York County where the arts are an integral component of economic growth and development, tourism, education and everyday life.
The York County Economic Alliance is a 501(c)6 organization founded in 2012 through an affiliation between York County’s chamber and economic development organizations. The group drives York County’s economic growth by leveraging the collaboration, resources and expertise needed to create sustainable prosperity through facilitating expansion, funding, redevelopment, networking, business-to-business promotion, advocacy and workforce development, among many other services.
