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Creative Economy Resource Center

Facts and figures
Toolkits and planning handbooks
Readings, talks, and inspiration
Resources
Wisconsin models
Models beyond Wisconsin
Creative placemaking

updated 2-18-21

Facts and figures about the arts, arts education, and creative economy in Wisconsin and beyond:

  • The Arts and Creative Economy:  21st Century Growth for Wisconsin – a report on the state of the arts and creative economy in Wisconsin
  • Talking points about the arts, arts education and creative economy in Wisconsin – our state’s vibrant arts community makes us a strong recruiting draw in the 21st century economy and sets us apart from other states.
  • Wisconsin Creative Industries Map, 2017 – The most recent figures available for Wisconsin show that nearly 9,200 arts-related businesses employ over 50,000 people throughout the state.
  • Arts and Economic Prosperity V:     a comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry conducted in Wisconsin 2016-2017, from the Wisconsin Arts Board and Americans for the Arts
  • America’s Creative Economy – research from October 2015 on creative economies across America – especially focused on how regions and organizations conceptualize and track that segment of their local economy that fosters and taps imagination, creativity, and innovation to create and deliver goods, products, and services.
  • BEA/NEA Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA):   Before the pandemic shutdowns started in March 2020…there was great info from the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Research & Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), showing that nationally, the arts and cultural sector contributed $877 billion or 4.3% to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017. For Wisconsin, the arts and cultural sector impact is currently $10.1 billion and 3.1% of the Wisconsin economy, contributing 0ver 96,000 jobs (compared to 31,000 in Wisconsin’s papermaking sector and 35,000 in the state’s biotech industry). This info is from the latest report of the Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), produced by the Department of Commerce and the NEA. More info here.
  • Culture Track – the largest national study focused exclusively on the ever-changing attitudes and behaviors of U.S. cultural consumers
  • Craftspersons and Artists in Northwest Wisconsin: Putting a Face on a Creative Industry – Northern Center for Community and Economic Development |University of Wisconsin-Superior/Extension (.pdf)
  • Arts and Creativity in Education:  Global research and practice show that students with high levels of arts participation outperform other students on virtually every measure from standardized tests to community participation, and that learning through the arts has a significant effect on learning in other areas, particularly in the early years.   We know that Wisconsin needs more workers proficient in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) studies.  We must add the arts for 21st century STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) in Wisconsin.

Toolkits and planning handbooks:

Readings, talks, and inspiration

Resources and ideas from thought-leaders, decision-makers and institutions:

Creative economy programs/projects/initiatives in Wisconsin:

Models beyond Wisconsin:  resources, ideas, and creative economy programs/projects/initiatives nationally and globally

Creative placemaking