Cultural Economic Development Around the Country
State Initiatives - Many states have enacted legislation that support arts-based community development efforts. The Creative Economy Resource Center of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has compiled a comprehensive list of these initiatives. Those states include:
- Arkansas - seed funding for regional creative economy pilot projects within the state.
- Iowa - Imagine Iowa:2010, a plan to increase support for the creative sector by 2010. In 2004, Iowa established a program to create cultural entertainment districts throughout the state.
- Louisiana - after Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana's Cultural Economy Initiative was transformed into a new initiative, Louisiana Rebirth: Restoring the Soul of America, and the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation was created to spearhead the relief efforts.
- Maine - established the Creative Economy Council to advise and advance Maine's Creative Economy initiatives. The Council has published Maine's Creative Economy Connecting Creativity, Commerce and Community, a set of recommendations for strengthening Maine's grassroots creative industries and creative workforce and Maine's Creative Economy Handbook; how-to advice for communities and entrepreneurs interested in building creative commerce.
- Maryland - created the Arts & Entertainment District program to provide tax benefits to artists and art organizations within designated districts.
- Michigan - introduced the Cool Cities initiative in 2003 as a state-wide plan to develop vibrant communities that attract creative knowledge workers and spur economic growth.
- Rhode Island - passed legislation to provide tax incentives to artists who live and work in designated arts districts.
- Vermont - created the Vermont Creative Communities Program to provide targeted community-led planning assistance to jump-start local economic development.
- Washington - conceptualized the Creative Vitality Index - a tool designed to provide an annual assessment of the health of Washington's arts-related creative economy. The index includes both nonprofit and commercial activity and incorporates measures of community arts participation and arts-related occupations.
For more information on these and other state initiatives visit the Creative Economy Resource Center on the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies' website.
Local Initiatives - Hundreds of communities across the country have enacted legislation, financed local programs and developed collaborations to support arts based community development initiatives. Below are just a few.
- Millville, NJ - local government established an ordinance defining an arts district overlay zone; five-year no interest loans are offered to relocating artists and artisans; passed a local bond issue financing a cultural center and public improvements in the arts district.
Glasstown Arts District
- North Adams, MA - state and local government, community leaders and Williams College collaborated to convert a complex of abandoned industrial buildings into a campus that houses the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and numerous high tech businesses.
Article: When can the arts revive an economy?
- Paducah, KY - This town of 26,000 established Paducah's Artist Relocation Program in 2000. The program provides a $2500 relocation bonus, low fixed-rate loans, friendly live/work zoning, discounts on building materials and access to health care through the Kentucky Arts Council. http://www.paducaharts.com/about_the_program.php.
- Pawtucket, RI - Taking advantage of state legislation the city created the Pawtucket Arts & Entertainment District:
- 307 acre arts & entertainment district, encompassing 60 city streets and 23 mill properties.
- No sales tax accessed for art work sold within the district
- Artists who live and work within the district are exempt from state income tax.
Paper: The ABCs of Creating an Artist Friendly Community
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