Arts Pulse: Insights on Maryland creative economy

3/26/2015

Theresa Colvin

Article Topics:

Arts and Culture

Theresa Colvin is Executive Director of the Maryland State Arts Council under the authority of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

March 2015

Arts Pulse: Insights on Maryland creative economy

Theresa Colvin is Executive Director of the Maryland State Arts Council under the authority of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

Among Maryland's many competitive advantages is a thriving creative economy. The nonprofit arts industry in Maryland contributes to State and local economies, supports jobs, generates tax revenue, enhances our education system and contributes to Maryland's unparalleled quality of life.

Each year, hundreds of nonprofit arts groups, in which the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) invests, generate $45 million in State and local tax revenue, $1 billion in economic impact and support 12,000 full-time jobs. The successful programs and initiatives of the MSAC show us that the arts, when leveraged fully, are a statewide asset that advance our communities, educate our children, inspire our people and grow our economy. Through the core programs of the MSAC, partnerships with arts organizations and programs, local arts councils, artists, communities, schools, teachers, universities and others, ensure that our public investment in the arts moves our whole State, and its people, forward.

According to a recent poll, 81 percent of Marylanders agree that a vibrant arts community makes Maryland a better place to live. And 90 percent want Maryland and its local communities to encourage arts and creativity. These qualities also serve to attract companies that not only want to hire creative thinkers and innovative workers, but also provide employees and their families an array of cultural amenities

Maryland has also been at the forefront of creative placemaking where the arts and artists are positioned at the center of community building and sustainable economic development efforts. In 2001, Maryland established the first State-level Arts & Entertainment Districts Program (A&E) that offers tax-related incentives that attract artists, arts organizations and other creative enterprises to locate within a district. The A&E program has grown to a network of 22 districts in 15 counties, resulting in a significant economic impact. The most recent study shows that Maryland A&E Districts collectively supported more than 5,000 new jobs and $36 million in state and local tax revenue.

To find out more about the arts in Maryland, please visit the Arts Council's website at http://www.msac.org/.

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