The discussion on creative economies has taken on a high profile in the U.S. and around the globe. Best-selling books such as Richard Florida�s The Rise of the Creative Class (2002) and meetings such as the Memphis Manifesto (2003) highlight the need for creativity as an asset in the economy. Cities and regions in the United States face challenges in attracting and retaining highly-skilled workers, the development of creative industries, as well as the expansion of markets for creative products and services.
Key Statistics
69 percent of local arts agencies (LAAs) report addressing economic development issues through their community development programs. More than half of the agencies (63%) partner with other agencies to develop cultural tourism programs. Thirty-six percent of LAAs have a cultural district in their community.¹
America's nonprofit arts industry generated $134 billion in economic activity every year, including $24.4 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues. The $134 billion total includes $53.2 billion in spending by arts organizations and $80.8 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences.²
Of the 12.8 million active U.S. businesses tracked by Dunn & Bradstreet in 2005, more than 578,000 businesses are involved in the production or distribution of the arts (4.3 percent of all businesses) and they employ 2.97 million people (2.2 percent of all employees).³
Craft sales in 2000 had an impact between $12.3 billion to $13.8 billion generated by 126,000 craftspeople.*
