Greater Owensboro Music Commission seeking partners for music census
The Greater Owensboro Music Commission is seeking community partners involved in music to help spread the word about the organization's upcoming 'music census.'
The plan is to launch the census in July and gather information from anyone involved in music performance, production, education and other avenues.
Steve Johnson, facilitator for the Music Commission, said the census results will help the community identify changes that would help promote music.
When the results are released later this year, 'it will come with some recommendations' for improvement, Johnson said. 'I don't know what those are, because it will be unique to Owensboro and Daviess County.'
The survey and its results will signal nationally 'that Owensboro-Daviess County is serious about music,' Johnson said.
According to a press release, the census' findings 'will inform strategies for supporting live music, boosting music education, improving regulations and guiding future investments in the region's cultural economy.'
People involved in music in Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties, and others involved with music in Owensboro and Daviess County will be included in the census, the press release says. Johnson said the work now is to get organizations involved in music, such as venues, churches, businesses and others, to spread the word about the census.
'If you look at other communities, they've done this,' Johnson said.
The census data will be compiled into a report with findings by Sound Music Cities, an Austin, Texas firm.
Johnson said the report is expected to be released in November.
Musicians who come in to play at venues such as Friday After 5 can also participate, Johnson said. Some questions will be Owensboro-Daviess County specific, and will look at address any barriers people in music face in the community, Johnson said.
'We want to hear them (musicians): 'Why do they go to Nashville to do a gig?' or, 'What are the biggest barriers' to music performance and the music business in area, Johnson said.
'What are some of the gaps we can fill?' Johnson said later.
The recommendations will be driven by the responses to the census.
'It's meant to be realistic ... otherwise, it doesn't get done,' Johnson said. 'We are going to try to find realistic opportunities that exist.'
People interested in being a community partner should visit the commission's website, GreaterOwensboroMusic.org.
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