ArtServe Michigan, an arts-and-culture advocacy organization based in Wixom, recently released a new
report detailing the economic impact arts and culture and the creative class have on Michigan.
The idea behind the Creative State Michigan report is to dispel the myth that spending on arts and culture initiatives is easily expendable, especially in hard economic times.
"This year's report dispels that argument," says Jennifer Goulet, president & CEO of
ArtServe Michigan. "It shows hard data that makes it clear that arts and culture are things we should include in our economic tool kit. These are essential ingredients that make a community vibrant and a place people want to be."
The Creative State Michigan report shows that there were more than $553 million in expenditures alone in the Michigan economy in 2010. Nearly $194 million supported salaries for 22,335 jobs and $13.9 million in the employer portion of the payroll tax were also generated. From 2006 to 2011, there was a 15 percent increase in the number of arts-related jobs, and 65 percent increase in arts-related businesses.
"This is definitely a growth sector opportunity for the state," Goulet says.
To read the report, click
here.
Source: Jennifer Goulet, president & CEO of ArtServe Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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