Tuesday morning the US Conference of Mayors met in Reno to talk about arts and culture and ways to improve it in their own cities.
“We've also seen it play a huge economic impact tool when it comes to looking at city and where they want to invest,” says Mayor Hillary Schieve.
Driving by the murals, sculptures and monuments in Reno, many don’t realize the importance the City of Reno says they have, not only for self-expression but for the economy.
A lot of the art you see throughout the city comes from a room tax, that means whenever people come to Reno and stay in our rooms, a piece of that is dedicated to art and purchasing art.
14 mayors are in Reno for the conference. They are heading to Burning Man next to experience and see how they can take some of the lessons home.
The conference also discussed tourism, arts, and other activities that create opportunities for American cities.
“Mayors are very good at stealing ideas and replicating in their own city,” says Bryan K. Barnett, Mayor of Rochester Hills. “In my mind I've gone through a mental inventory of all the walls in my city where we can put murals,” he says.
