Support the arts to build economy
11:22 PM 9/22/03

Innovation drives the economy, and creative people drive the innovations. Wisconsin's future economic competitiveness rests in luring these highly skilled, educated folks and the knowledge-intensive businesses that employ them. <

So what do these objectives have to do with today's ArtGrowth Summit in Madison? Everything. <

Creative professionals flock to communities that offer a vibrant, varied culture, including interesting music venues, art galleries and theaters. This first-time summit, organized by the Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts and its partners in Madison and Dane County arts, education and business communities, will focus on developing healthy artistic communities to promote economic development. <

The arts alone can play a significant economic role in dollars spent and jobs created. But there's also broader, equally tangible economic value in local culture. We ought to recognize the economic gains we can reap not just by selling theater tickets to visitors but by creating dynamic local cultural scenes that underpin a better quality of life for full-time residents. <

Enticing a so-called "creative class" of workers in high-tech and knowledge-based businesses can help stabilize aging city neighborhoods and create jobs. But right now, Wisconsin ranks in the bottom 10 of 50 states in taxpayer funding for arts - and it's not likely that a cash-strapped state government will come running to help Wisconsin communities get in on this act. <

Instead, the local arts groups that already generate about $290 million in economic activity statewide each year must leverage their economic clout to get more local public and private support. Businesses, for example, clearly stand to gain from investing in cultural development that in turn will help the businesses get and keep top-notch professionals. <

When trying to build regional economies, we pay a lot of attention to offering new business incentives and tax breaks. Those are obvious and effective approaches. But we must also similarly support and promote cultural organizations to gain a stronger competitive edge and bolster communities' quality of life. <