New Report from the NGA Center For Best Practices Highlights Benefits Arts and Culture bring to State Economies

Using Arts and Culture to
Stimulate State Economic
Development

Arts and culture are important to state economies. Arts and culture-related industries, also known as
“creative industries,” provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract
investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases.
These industries also provide an array of other benefits, such as infusing other industries with creative
insight for their products and services and preparing workers to participate in the contemporary workforce.

In addition, because they enhance quality of life, the arts and culture are an important complement to
community development, enriching local amenities and attracting young professionals to an area.
Governors increasingly recognize the importance of the creative sector to their states’ economy and ability
to compete in the global marketplace. A number of factors underscore the connection between economic
competitiveness and creativity.

For example:

Creative and new media industries are growing in number and playing increasingly

• prominent
economic and social roles;

• Companies’ decisions about where to locate their businesses often are influenced by factors such as
the ready availability of a creative workforce and the quality of life available to employees;

• Arts and culture can play a major role in community development and redevelopment by creating
new jobs as well as fostering an environment and amenities that attract talented young workers;
and

• Tourism centered on arts and culture can contribute to state and local economic growth by providing
a diversified and sustainable means for creating jobs and attracting revenue.

Full Report: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0901ARTSANDECONOMY.PDF