Sal Prizio is the executive director of the Capitol Center for the Arts.

As the executive director of the Capitol Center for the Arts for the last three-and-a-half years, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of the arts in our community.

From captivating performances of music, theater, comedy and dance to school-time educational programs, the arts continue to create community and sustain our local economy – something the Capitol Center has been at the forefront of doing for the past thirty years.

However, the recent threat to eliminate the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts endangers more than just creativity and community togetherness. It jeopardizes a vital economic engine for our state.

The arts and culture sector in New Hampshire generates significant economic impact, contributing over $2.7 billion to our state’s economy annually. This sector supports thousands of jobs, attracts tourists and bolsters small businesses, from local restaurants to hotels, all of which benefit from increased foot traffic during cultural events. For many towns and cities, arts organizations serve as anchors of downtown revitalization and community pride.

At the Capitol Center for the Arts, we have witnessed how investment in the arts creates ripples of prosperity throughout Concord and beyond. Our performances draw over 120,000 visitors from across New England, filling our downtown and fostering a thriving local economy. The arts play a critical role in education and workforce development, sparking innovation and equipping young people with the creative, collaborative and critical thinking skills that are essential for success in any industry.

Additionally, arts and culture create a unique identity for the communities we serve. New Hampshire is New Hampshire because of the “one-of-a-kind” attractions that contribute to the fabric of the state’s identity. Chain stores can be found anywhere, but our historic sites, our locally owned and operated venues, our galleries, our gathering spaces are part of what make us, us.

There is only one Peterborough Players, only one Currier Museum, only one Strawberry Banke, only one Opera North, only one Capitol Center for the Arts, only one New Hampshire.

In view of the definitive evidence of the impact that this cultural landscape has created makes our elected officials’ vote to eliminate the State Council on the Arts such a puzzling decision to understand. If you claim to be a proud official of New Hampshire and our identity, then why remove one of the institutions that has long helped make us unique, strong and dynamic?

I urge our elected officials to recognize the arts as a strategic investment, not a luxury. By supporting NHSCA, we affirm our commitment to a New Hampshire that values its identity, community and economic vitality.

Let us not allow short-term fiscal decisions to undermine the long-term cultural and economic health of our state.