The arts are often framed as cultural enrichment — something valuable but secondary to “real” economic drivers. Yet research consistently shows that the arts contribute billions to GDP, create jobs, and stimulate growth in industries from tourism to technology.
Ripple Effects
A thriving arts scene doesn’t just benefit artists. Restaurants, hotels, and local shops all see increased activity when festivals, performances, or exhibitions take place. Cities with vibrant cultural life attract talent, investment, and visitors in ways spreadsheets alone can’t capture.
Innovation and Creativity
The arts fuel innovation across sectors. Design, storytelling, and creative problem-solving flow from artistic practice into business, education, and even science. An economy that undervalues the arts risks undervaluing the very creativity it depends on.
The Question
If the arts are proven drivers of economic activity, then treating them as luxuries is short-sighted. Which leaves us to ask: how can we reframe the arts as central to economic planning, rather than as optional extras in times of prosperity?
Arts as Economic Engine
More Than a “Nice-to-Have”
The arts are often framed as cultural enrichment — something valuable but secondary to “real” economic drivers. Yet research consistently shows that the arts contribute billions to GDP, create jobs, and stimulate growth in industries from tourism to technology.
Ripple Effects
A thriving arts scene doesn’t just benefit artists. Restaurants, hotels, and local shops all see increased activity when festivals, performances, or exhibitions take place. Cities with vibrant cultural life attract talent, investment, and visitors in ways spreadsheets alone can’t capture.
Innovation and Creativity
The arts fuel innovation across sectors. Design, storytelling, and creative problem-solving flow from artistic practice into business, education, and even science. An economy that undervalues the arts risks undervaluing the very creativity it depends on.
The Question
If the arts are proven drivers of economic activity, then treating them as luxuries is short-sighted. Which leaves us to ask:
how can we reframe the arts as central to economic planning, rather than as optional extras in times of prosperity?