The annual Creative Economy Week, presented in partnership by Arts Wisconsin and the League of W
isconsin Municipalities, shines a spotlight on community engagement through the arts, creative opportunities, and the arts and creativity as an investment for Wisconsin.
Creative Economy Week is a great way to celebrate Wisconsin’s growing creative economy through social media and interaction across the state and share the ways in which the arts, culture and creativity play a vital role in our everyday lives.
Creative Economy Week 2020 will happen Saturday-Saturday, May 9-16, 2020. Watch for more info!
Ways to celebrate:
- Ask your local elected officials to adopt a proclamation honoring Creative Economy Week in your community. Use the template message proclamation to celebrate! Click here for city and village proclamations.
- Click here for Ten Ways to Celebrate Creative Economy Week
- Gather together arts activities and programs in your community during Creative Economy Week. You don’t have to create new programs…just “bundle” together what’s already going on. Promote on social media, create a flyer, have a party! Whatever you do for Creative Economy
Week is part of the celebration! Get in touch with Arts Wisconsin at info@artswisconsin.org if you want to brainstorm about ideas and opportunities.
Here’s how we celebrated previous Creative Economy Weeks:
- In 2019, Creative Economy Week happened in conjunction with Wisconsin Museums Week, May 11-18, Milwaukee Museum Mile Day on Sunday, March 12, and International Museums Day 2019, Armed Forces Day, and Wisconsin’s annual Downtown Open House on Saturday, May 18.
- Milwaukee Public Library celebrates Creative Economy Week
- Milwaukee Museum Mile Day – on Sunday, May 12, #MMMDay is a great way to spend Mother’s Day exploring five unique museums on Milwaukee’s historic East Side for free/reduced admission.
- Editorial: Creative Economy Week, Neil Heinen and WISC-TV, Madison, 5-14-19
- The City of Middleton Arts Committee hosted a free, one day Art Walk featuring the works of 28 fine artists in a variety of media at 15 locations, on Saturday, May 18. Click here for more info.
- Eau Claire celebrated Creative Economy Week with “ArtFull Eau Claire” and events and activities going on all week! Click here for more info.
- 2019 – spotlight on performing arts centers throughout the state.
- One big statewide proclamation signed by cities and villages across Wisconsin – thanks for the support to our local officials and civic leaders!
Press press coverage, magazine articles, social media – Creative Economy Weeks 2019 and 2018:
- Editorial: Arts in Wisconsin on Creative Economy Week, Neil Heinen, WISC-TV, 5-14-19
- Wisconsin Public Radio “Central Time” interview with Anne Katz and the value and benefits of museums in communities and throughout the state, 5-16-19
- The Wheeler Report’s LocalGovMatters podcast on #CreativeEconomyWeek 2019, civic engagement through the arts and innovative creative economy initiatives throughout the state, 5-20-19
- The Local Perspective from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities: Waupaca’s creative economy and cultural plan
produced by Oshkosh Media, 5-18-18 - Wisconsin Economy: More Creative All the Time, Fresh Take with Josh Dukelow, WHBY, 5-17-1
- Facebook Live interview with Paula Vandehay, City of Appleton Director of Public Works, and Jennifer Stephany, Director, Appleton Downtown, and Gail Sumi of the League and Anne Katz of Arts Wisconsin, 5-17-18
- Facebook Live interview with Joe Ferlo, Director, Grand Opera House, and Oshkosh Mayor Steve Cummings (and his grandson Oliver), 5-17-1
- A growing arts economy highlights Creative Economy Week
WXPR, 5-16-18- Research connects thriving arts community with innovative businesses in rural areas
WPR, 5-17-18 - Baraboo graces cover of statewide magazine
Portage Daily Register, 5-14-18 - Creative Economy Week events, Eau Claire
Leader-Telegram, 5-13-18 - Creating a Vibrant Economy: Creative Economy Week kicks off in Eau Claire
Volume One, 5-2-18
- Research connects thriving arts community with innovative businesses in rural areas
Information, action planning, and research on the creative economy
- Click here for resources, information, data and research about the creative economy in Wisconsin and beyond.
- Click here for specific ideas on civic engagement through the arts, or, how to answer the question, “what can our community do to grow its creative economy?”
- Defining the “creative economy” is an evolving process, but the simplest way is to describe it is the intersection of the creative workforce, creative industries and creative communities. Click here for definitions of the creative economy from around the world. What can you and communities actually DO to grow the creative economy, enhance quality of life, educate our kids, and keep our communities vibrant?”
- Click here for some great infographics and data from the National Endowment for the Arts on arts participation, civic engagement throughout the arts, and the economic value of the arts.
Highlights of Creative Economy Week 2017:
- Murals, murals, murals! The theme was murals, and we showed off public art in Wisconsin cities and villages throughout Wisconsin. Check out the Facebook photo album and Instagram account.
- And, proclamations! Click here for city and village proclamations from across the state.
- Creative Economy Week focus of this week in Wisconsin
WXPR, 5-9-17 - Eau Claire celebrates Creative Economy Week with various events
WQOW, 5-15-17 -
City of Eau Claire kicks off Creative Economy Week
WEAU, 5-15-17 - City appreciates efforts of creative people
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, 5-14-17
Highlights of Creative Economy Week 2016:
- Communities throughout the state proclaimed Creative Economy Week for their cities, villages and towns. Click here for Creative Economy Week proclamations and resolutions.
- We asked Wisconsin’s Poet Laureate, Kimberly Blaeser, and other poets from across the state, to share their poetry about community and communities. Read the poetry here.
- Anne Katz of Arts Wisconsin and Gail Sumi of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities spoke about Creative Economy Week on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Central Time” on April 26. Listen here!
- Arts Wisconsin’s social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – highlighted the impact of the creative economy movement and the success it has had across the state and across the nation.
- Here were ten ways to celebrate Creative Economy Week!
Whether it be in community cultural development, arts education, or tourism, the arts and creativity play a role in in the lives of everyone, everywhere in Wisconsin. Celebrate!