The author of Free Culture shows how we harm our children–and almost anyone who creates, enjoys, or sells any art form–with a restrictive copyright system driven by corporate interests. Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig reveals the solutions to this impasse offered by a collaborative yet profitable “hybrid economy”.
Economic Impact
Arts & the Economy: Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development
Governors increasingly recognize the importance of the creative sector to their states’ economy and ability to compete in the global marketplace. “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. This report looks at best practices for enhancing the creative economy in your state.
Creative Placemaking
Creative Placemaking is a resource for mayors, arts organizations, the philanthropic sector, and others interested in understanding strategies for leveraging the arts to help shape and revitalize the physical, social, and economic character of neighborhoods, cities, and towns. In the words of the report, “Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired.” SEE PRESS RELEASE SEE REPORT
Perspectives on Cultural Tax Districts
Proceedings from a seminar on cultural tax districts sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission and WESTAF. Held in Seattle, Washington, in February, 2008, seminar participants focused on the benefits, drawbacks, structure and impact of cultural tax districts. Participants examined several proposed, unsuccessful, and current tax district structures–such as Denver’s Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, which yields more than $42 million annually for arts and culture in a seven-county area. Printed copies of the proceedings are available upon request from WESTAF.
Communicating Value: Re-framing Arts and Culture Data
With funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, RMC conducted an inquiry into the perspectives of planning and economic development professionals on the utility of different types of arts and cultural data. RMC created a typology of arts and culture data and tested it through focused discussions and interviews. Through this process we learned about ways that cultural data might be collected and presented more effectively. One outcome of this work is the monograph Communicating Value: Re-framing Arts and Culture Data.
Creative Industries 2012: The State Report
Americans for the Arts (AFTA) released in May 2012 Creative Industries 2012: The State Report, which presents a detailed analysis of arts-related businesses, institutions, and organizations in the country’s 50 states plus the District of Columbia. The study reveals that arts-centric businesses represent 4.3 percent of all businesses and 2.2 percent of all jobs in the United States and that the arts are a robust and formidable economic growth sector.
California had the most number of arts businesses (98,949) and the sixth number of arts employees (500,891). California also had the largest amount of growth in arts businesses (14.35%) and arts employees (17.52%) from 2007 to 2008.
Other highlights of the national study include:
* More than 612,000 arts-related businesses employ 2.98 million people nationwide.
* Arts-centric businesses grew 12 percent from 2007 compared to the growth of 10.7 percent for all U.S. businesses.
* Employment growth by arts-centric businesses since 2007 was 11.6 percent, more than four times the rise in the total number of U.S. employees of 2.4 percent.
The creative industries range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and advertising companies. The study tracks and maps the presence of these arts-related entities in six creative industries: museums and collections; performing arts; visual arts and photography; film, radio, and TV; design and publishing; and arts schools and services.
