• We must be prepared to take advantage of the new communications networks that have grown up around us. We must recognize the new technologies that will help us all as we strive to build our communities through the arts.

• Cultural tourism will become a more important aspect of our business as we look toward building a healthier economy through the arts.
  
• We want to emphasize our continuing support for the state's larger arts institutions, which are so important to the artistic welfare and continued economic growth of our state, and to the creativity of Ohio's individual artists.
  
• It is no longer possible to think of Ohio as a state with many large and small cities surrounded by rural areas. We need to think of Ohio as a whole - one huge diverse community linked together through the arts. That will help us make our entire state a much better place to live.
  
• The growing need for changes in our educational system points up the important part the arts can play in training all people for the lives they will live in the next century.
  
• The arts in Ohio must play a role in the global economy and become as involved as businesses have been in furthering Governor Voinovich’s strong emphasis on international economic development.

These are exciting times that give the Arts Council an opportunity to play an important role in keeping Ohio a very healthy place to live and create art. We are all in this together. Let' s continue to share the arts as we head toward 2000.

- Wayne Lawson, OAC Executive Director.