When you consider everything arts and culture can offer a community, the possibilities are endless. Whether contributing to local economic development, building community, or attracting investments, there is always a case for a robust local arts scene. As we begin to focus on Arts and Culture, read below to find out all the ways it creates positive change in the local economy and community.
Economic Impacts
Arts and culture means serious business for the economy. In 2022, the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study found that the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $151.7 billion in revenue. In another survey, 87% of Americans believed that arts and culture are important for the local economy and businesses.
Indiana’s economy has also benefitted from the arts, which contributed $8.3 billion to the state’s economy in 2020. This represented 2.4% of Indiana’s GDP.
Keeping this in mind, here are some ways arts and culture can support and grow local economies.
Job Creation
Contrary to some common misconceptions, there are jobs available in the arts, and it helps diversify a community’s employment sector. In 2020 a study from Americans for the Arts indicated arts-related businesses employed 51,084 people across Indiana and reflected 9,647 organizations. Some examples of these jobs include executive directors, program managers, designers, and photographers.
Revitalization and Investment
Community revitalization is critical to a town’s economy. The arts provide numerous opportunities and options for this to happen. Some primary examples include new performance spaces, arts installations, community concerts, and much more.
This is also an efficient way to bring new investment to the community. It can take the form of an uptick in tourism, retaining existing population, attracting new residents, and continued investment in arts and culture projects.
Wayne County has capitalized on these initiatives in recent years. Just this summer, artists from around the country came to the county to install 10 new murals. There are even more developments with a component of the Wayne County Foundation’s GIFT VIII plan proposing the construction of a new outdoor performance venue in Cambridge City. This will allow the arts community to expose the arts to new communities, and to provide quality programming that will impact everyday life.
Lilly Endowment is also investing $65 million in arts and culture projects around the state through READI 2.0. The arts are important!
Small Businesses
Small businesses make up a large sector of a town’s economy. Several of them have taken advantage of opportunities presented by arts and culture. Events like concerts or poetry readings help bring in new customers and provide activities for residents.
Additionally, it has also helped create new businesses. This is seen with art galleries, performance areas, and craft stores.
Existing businesses in Wayne County already doing this include the Barn at Helm, Firehouse BBQ & Blues, Dougherty Orchards, Roscoe’s, Lakeview Restaurant, and Village Forager.
Community Impacts
Outside of economic impacts, arts and culture help give new meaning to the community. It helps create a local identity and brings residents together. Here are two ways arts and culture contribute to the fabric of the community.
Local Identity and Pride
Art can define a community’s identity. A town may have a famous artist from the area who gave it some notoriety. There may even be a sculpture or mural that has become synonymous with the community.
This is true for several towns in Wayne County. For example, the Overbeck Sisters are a central part of Cambridge City’s history, while Richmond is known for Gennett Records.
Alternatively, Wayne County communities have incorporated their history and characteristics into art like murals and sculptures. The new murals in East Germantown, Economy, and Hagerstown reflect hometown connections.
A community needs an identity to create a sense of pride and familiarity. Art gives residents the ability to create one.
Social Cohesion
Nothing brings people together like arts and culture. Events like concerts, community art projects, and theater performances are some of the best ways to build social cohesion. There is usually a shared interest in the arts.
Creating and building community is a large part of Wayne County’s success and the arts allow it to happen locally. It is not uncommon to see scores of residents at summer concerts in Cambridge, at Pottery Palooza at the Richmond Art Museum, or at Richmond Symphony Orchestra performances. The options for people in this sector are plentiful.
Wrapping Up
When you look at a community, one of the first components to examine is the arts and culture sector. Wayne County is fortunate to be rich in the arts. There are boundless opportunities to partake, volunteer, and financially support. Look for opportunities to become part of this conversation. You will not regret it.
