Montana makes creative enterprise economic development a top priority

In an unprecedented endorsement of the value of the arts and creativity, the state of Montana is making creative enterprise one of its top priorities for economic expansion in the state. The governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is leading the effort with assistance from the Montana Arts Council

by: Arlynn Fishbaugh

Cluster economic development was unveiled this summer at the Economic Summit held in Billings, where the consulting firm Regional Technology Strategies (RTS), one of the top economic development cluster leaders in the country, presented recommendations for the state at the request of Governor Judy Martz. Cited among these are “creative enterprises” – those companies and individuals that produce and use creativity of form, design, sound and language. (This certainly encompasses all of the artistic disciplines!)

The first meeting to launch this work and develop priorities was held Jan. 21 in Helena. RTS principal, Dr. Stuart Rosenfeld, led the meeting. He began by stating, “We’re looking at creative clusters as an engine of economic growth. Clusters are about retention and expansion first.”

According to Rosenfeld, the creative enterprise cluster ranked first in readiness in an analysis his company did in presenting its recommendation to the state. “This cluster is more important than the others,” he added, “not only for what it produces, but also the impact it has on other parts of the economy.”

He identified those impacts as:

• Design: Improves product appeal and market value

• Amenities: Attracts talented people, talent-based companies and tourist

• Innovation: Creates an innovative environment for other sectors

• Education: Improves education outcomes in math, science and other fields

• Sustainability: Provides ancillary income that allows other sectors to survive (e.g. farmers and ranchers.)

After a discussion of many issues, the committee concurred on the following priorities for the coming year. These priorities balance what can be done through partnerships and with strategic investment, and those that require a substantial investment. Several are designed to offer outcomes that can be analyzed by the next governor and legislature for potential expansion and investment consideration.

1. Establish a leadership council for the creative enterprise areas.

2. Conduct an economic impact study of individual artists (writers, performing artists, visual artists, craftspeople, etc.) and, if financially feasible, also include the private-sector arts industries, such as galleries and frame shops, etc.

This study would provide a factual basis as to the size and importance of artists to the state’s economy, and provide a framework for urging future potential investment to find ways to expand artists’ exposure, sales and distribution.
Although there is a study of the Montana nonprofit arts organizations’ economic impact on Montana ($85 million in FY 2002), a study of artists’ economic impact is essential to make the case for other types of investment that benefit artists and the arts.

3. Research feasibility and begin planning for a Montana Artisan/Crafts/Traditional Arts/Indian Art Market (as you can see, we’re still working on the name) that would feature wholesale artist sales in a two-to-four day market annually. This market, modeled after the Kentucky Craft Market, would attract buyers from throughout the country.

4. MSU College of Technology in Great Falls plans to offer curriculum to enhance the entrepreneurs in creative enterprises, a two-year design curriculum, as well as host workshops in business development and marketing for artists (some in partnership with local arts organizations). The college is looking at not only working in Great Falls and Bozeman, but also doing certain coursework and workshops through the Internet.

5. Marketing areas:

• Investigate the possibility of creating and promoting a one-stop-shopping website for Montana artists that would link directly to artists, agents or other websites hosting artists. In this way, if people were searching for a Montana artist, or if they wanted someone to sing at their wedding, or if they were interested in Montana books by Montana authors, they could check it all out here and then be directed to a private-sector seller.

It is important to say here that this site would be set up for e-commerce through linking to the private sector, as directed by the artist. The state does not wish to compete with or encroach upon private retail businesses.

• International promotion of artists through trade missions, and using the arts and culture as the entrée to businesses in other countries. This amplifies the work being done by Geoff Sutton and the World Trade Center in Missoula, which has conducted a very successful tour to Ireland and are about to travel to New Zealand in March, each promoting Montana artists.

6. Enhance cultural tourism by working with Travel Montana, the tourism regions, local chambers of commerce and communities to increase inclusion of the arts and culture in tourism promotion and further development of cultural tourism trails and other opportunities.

7. Creation of internet communication amongst these projects and creative enterprise groups.
There also may be an opportunity to look at a single region of the state, and help facilitate efforts to expand creative enterprise work to benefit that area of the state.

Montana delegation to attend Kentucky Craft Market
To help envision a market such as that held in Kentucky, Montanans are heading to Louisville at the end of February to have a close-up and personal look at how Kentucky has made this event such a roaring success. Following this trip, a plan will be developed and presented to Governor Martz and the next governor, as well as the upcoming legislature.

Those traveling to the market are Chief Business Officer Dave Gibson, Director of Commerce Mark Simonich, incoming President of the Montana Chamber of Commerce Susan Munsinger, MAC Chairman Bill Frazier, traditional artist Jackie Parsons, former gallery owner Geoff Sutton, Keith Colbo, Senator Jon Tester of Big Sandy and Representative Monica Lindeen of Huntley. I will also be joining this group. (Sen. Corey Stapleton, Sen. Greg Barkus, Sen. John Esp, Sen. Rick Laible, Rep. Roy Brown, Rep. Rick Ripley and Rep. Michael Lang were also invited but scheduling conflicts and calving realities were problems that prevented them from joining the delegation.)

Creative enterprise development manager to be hired
A project manager is now being hired to begin work to oversee the creative cluster enterprise work for the coming year. The manager’s position will be funded through and report officially to Dave Gibson, the state’s chief business officer, and will work closely with the Montana Arts Council.

Partnerships critical to success

Partnerships will be critical to the success of these efforts. Individuals representing organizations that might be potential partners or can bring specific expertise and/or resources to the table were invited to the first meeting to get things off the ground.

There are many other potential partnerships and artists who will be involved with this planning. The group will be expanded once work begins in a specific area. The arts council wishes to warmly thank those attending this first meeting: Betsy Baumgart (Travel Montana); Toni Broadbent (Montana Ambassadors, Helena); Keith Colbo (lobbyist, Montana Arts Advocacy); Ann Desch (director, Small Business Development Center); Russ Fletcher (Montana Roundtable http://www.matr.net , representing the creative cluster in Missoula); Bill Frazier (chairman, Montana Arts Council, Big Timber); Al Jones (regional development officer for the Department of Commerce, Billings); Cheri Long (artist and recent MAC staff member, Helena); Fraser McLeay (Montana World Trade Center, Missoula); Mary Moe (dean of MSU College of Technology, Great Falls); Shari Nault-Pullar (director, Billings Cultural Partners); Jackie Parsons (Blackfeet traditional artist and MAC member); Jim Salmon and Timlynn Babitsky (SOHO-DOJO, Havre); Mark Simonich (director, Montana Department of Commerce); and Geoff Sutton (former gallery owner and art dealer and World Trade Center associate, Missoula).

Chief Business Officer Dave Gibson has been the leader in bringing this effort to life. On a personal note, I want to thank him and Governor Judy Martz for helping to make this such a momentous occasion in the history of the arts council.

We especially want to thank Dr. Stu Rosenfeld of Regional Technology Strategies, the chief facilitator, for helping Montana pave the way for this development. We would also like to thank the 2003 Legislature for its economic development funding in the state.

If you are interested in being involved as a member of one of the leadership groups for the creative enterprise clusters, please let us know! Phone me at 406-444-6430 or email me at .