New Report Looks at Traditional Arts Role in Economic Development

In a report entitled “Culture and Commerce: Traditional Arts in Economic Development,” the Urban Institutes shares the results of a study that examined whether small grants to community development agencies could help traditional artists expand the market for their work.

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In: Southern Compass is compiled from reports from the Southern Technology Council, the Southern Global Strategies Council, the Council on the Southern Economy, the Council on a New Economy Workforce, the Council on the Southern Community and Southern Growth staff.

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The study reports on the experiences of eight grantees, including the Eastern Oklahoma Development District Association, Mississippi Cultural Crossroads, and the Upper Savannah Council of Governments.

The report concludes that while the modest grants did not generate large gains in sales or income in the short term, they did appear to contribute to strengthening communities and to establishing a basis for longer-term cooperation between artists and economic development agencies.

The appendix to the report lists non-traditional sources of federal financial support for artists. Access the report at http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/410812_culture_and_commerce.pdf