Last month, I talked about the connection between Noodling and Doodling, that human development is economic development. This week I want to make the case for the arts and the important role they play in the life and death of cities.

This year, I have the privilege of helping Milwaukee’s United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) raise over nine million. Piece of cake. Why? Because in Milwaukee, young professionals, entrepreneurs, the city’s coolest leaders, weekend warriors, and old smarts “get” that the arts provide oodles of doodles to stimulate our noodles. Further, UPAF (which is like a United Way for arts organizations) funds ALL KINDS of projects, making sure that there’s something for everyone craving a creativity fix.

Young professionals and knowledge workers crave creative communities where they can recharges their brain batteries. And a community of well-stimulated brains will create and sustain greater wealth.

There are many ways you can Vote for the Arts in your community. Here are just a few… 1. Patronize the arts - attend an event or opening out of your comfort zone. Puppetry of the Penis played in Madison last week…origami for the genitalia…now that’s sure to stimulate a creative thought or two… 2. Buy art from local folks. Your wall does not need another Pottery Barn sconce. How about a nice unframed print, sculpture or piece of blown glass from an emerging artist from your local design school? 3. Write a check to a local arts organization…for any amount. Throw a buck in the street musician’s accordion case. 4. Volunteer as a docent at a museum, help schlep amps at an outdoor concert, help an artist write a business plan or market their products.

Whatever you do, don’t be lulled into the World Class Trap. When cities invest only in their “World Class Symphony” or their “World Class Ballet” they ostracize the fringe creatives whose contributions to great cities are just as important. World Class Cities also don’t hold singular allure for young professionals. Why? Because “World Class” means less to a generation for whom the world is already small, transportation is relatively cheap, and arts are valued. If a Gen X’er wants to see a Broadway play, they’ll hop a plane to NYC and see it ON BROADWAY.

Vote for the Arts. All of them.