Ruth Holmberg, the 90-year-old former publisher of the Chattanooga Times and longtime arts patron, has given the Scenic City and Tennessee many gifts. But there is one present she cannot offer – eternal life.
Across America, a golden tide of arts funding lasting more than 50 years has ebbed. In most of Chattanooga’s arts groups, seven of the top 10 donors are more than 70 years old, reports Pete Cooper, president of the Community Foundation, “and the 11th donor is only giving $2,000.”
Ruth Holmberg and Tom White are looking for new Arts leaders“Having an ‘angel’ (a single wealthy investor) sounds like a wonderful thing,” observes Holmberg, “but when the angel disappears, there you are in the soup.” Chattanooga’s arts groups may, or
may not, tumble into the gumbo. If so, the city’s leaders are planning to bail them out. Earlier this year, Holmberg and Unum Senior Vice President Tom White agreed to co-chair the steering committee for the Imagine Chattanooga 20/20 community plan. Since then, some 50 businessmen and women, arts patrons, artists, educators, civic leaders and politicians have met to brainstorm, debate and dream.
“There’s a tremendous amount of community engagement – both the Hamilton County and Chattanooga mayors or their staffs are involved in the process, a lot of business leaders and community leaders are involved,” explains White. “It lends a tremendous amount of credibility and elevates the whole process. That’s important to ensure it’s going to get the support and focus it needs.”