VALDOSTA — When the economy sunk like the Titanic a few years ago, it took down a number of local and national businesses with it. Though there were survivors, they tended to be the consistently strong contenders. They were shocked and rattled, but they were alive and well. However, unlike the valuable art pieces that went down with the Titanic, art is alive and well even in the current economy.

As a business, art has a unique advantage. In a world where people have survived without iPhones and have even survived without mass produced food, essentially, the world has never existed without art. Like air, art is a necessity. It is a part of the human experience that as a species, we cannot live without. Art in so many forms solicits feeling and communicates history.

“I don’t think that anyone can argue that art enhances the quality of life,” said Cheryl Oliver, Executive Director for the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts.

While art as a quality of life issue is no question, since the fall of the economy, several state and federal institutions as well as every day people have began to view art as not essential.

“It is a business issue,” said Oliver.

On Jan. 5, Oliver spoke with the Governmental Affairs Committee with the Chamber of Commerce to help remind them of this fact.

Oliver told them a story that occurred the Tuesday after Christmas. A lady walked into the art center accompanied by her two teenage sons. They were from Nashville, Ga. With them were her parents, a couple from West Virginia. They spent about an hour in the various galleries and gift shop where they made purchases. That same afternoon, the parents from West Virginia came to buy a piece of artwork that had captured their fancy. Not only did the family pay sales tax on all of their purchases from shop, but the couple paid sales tax on the piece of art, which benefits the community.

Like any other local business, art impacts the local economy. Though the Turner Center is a non-profit, the local economy still benefits from its sales.

According to Oliver, in 2011, the Turner Center paid more than $4,600 in sales tax collections alone.

The Art Center also contributes to other business establishments in town because they are a point of tourism.

“We are a huge tourism feature because we attract people from out of town,” said Oliver.

When people come to visit the Turner Center for events such as this year’s 25th Annual Spring Into Art Exhibition, which brought in more than 700 people on Monday night alone, those people spend money at local hotels, they eat at local restaurants, they shop at local stores and they buy gas locally.

While Oliver feels art is a alive and well, she does feel it’s realistic to say that as a business, it does face a mighty struggle.

“I think it’s a constant struggle to have people see that art is a necessity,” said Oliver. “As they tighten their belts, it’s been challenging.”

Oliver stated that because people are having to be more conservative with their spending, it has been a challenge to maintain membership levels. Because of this, they are having to become even more diligent with their expenditures.

“We’ve had to step up a lot         of cost saving measures,” said Oliver.

From utility bills to evaluating their fundraisers to make sure they’re profitable, the Turner Center has taken every means possible to ensure they can continue to serve the community’s craving for art.

“We have not yet gone to the measure of charging an admission,” said Oliver. “This is a community art center and therefore, it belongs to the people.”

While art maintains a steady pulse at the Turner Center, on a smaller scale, it appears to be doing equally as well at Kaleidoscope Gallery & Emporium who just moved to their new location at 116 North Patterson Street.

While many small businesses in town have taken a hit as a result of the economy, co-owner Fay Hyatt has adapted.

“We try to think of ways to expand our merchandise to meet our customer’s needs,” said Hyatt.

Kaleidoscope offers a number of price points and has various types of artwork available to ensure that they always have something for everyone. They have even introduced a beautiful, new gift line. Aside from offering more variety, Hyatt finds herself marketing the shop more vigorously.

“Currently we are holding our fourth annual portrait art sale,” said Hyatt. “This sale runs through May 6 with a 20 percent discount on all portraits with frame included.”

Kaleidoscope has also worked vigorously to accommodate the financial needs of their customers.

“Our store offers an Art lay-a-way plan and we encourage our customers to take any painting out on approval to see if it will work in their particular home or office,” said Hyatt.

Despite people being more conscious about their spending, Hyatt feels that art is still a good investment. The pieces at Kaleidoscope are original and American made.

“We encourage everyone to come in and buy American,” said Hyatt.

Anyone can go to national chains and buy imports or a piece of wall art that goes with a decor. However, in only a few years, that wall art is going to be out of style and more than likely your decor has already changed. That art not only depreciates in value, but as a person you value it less because it’s store bought, it doesn’t mean anything to you.

When you buy a piece of art from Kaleidoscope or the Turner Center, it means something to you. Out of all the art in the room, that one piece stood out to you and probably always will. Art not only holds its value unlike a purse or a pair of shoes, but it grows in value as well. What happens when that artists dies and no longer produces? You then have a rarity.

“I think art is a necessity,” said Hyatt.

While Hyatt and Oliver have heard many statements to the contrary, the business of art simply speaks for itself. Artists are still producing, art is still selling and people are still buying it.