What is the 'Creative Economy'?
By Denise Duda

At a news conference in Augusta on February 18th, Maine Senate President Beth Edmonds put forth a request for a $25 million bond issue to help support Maine's Creative Economy. She based her request on a just completed survey by the Cultural Affairs Council of Maine. With the help of member agencies the Council took a hard look at the cultural facilities in Maine's communities across the state. Their assessment included the "bricks and mortar" needs of each community's museums, theaters, libraries and cultural facilities.

Maine's assets include cultural assets as well as environmental and industrial

Senate President Edmonds (D-Cumberland County) stated: "…We enjoy an influx of new residents in part because of the 'quality of life' that Maine embodies. Not only our Forest and Seashores, but also our cultural assets bring and sustain growing businesses. From historic buildings- to vacant mills awaiting renovation- to local libraries, our "bricks and mortar" cultural assets abound but are in need of hard dollars to keep going as they have in the past. This Bond issue and its responsible administration by the Maine Cultural Affairs Council will enrich our lives immensely in the next decade and provide infinite intangible benefits for us all."

Why the creative economy when bridges and roads need fixing?

Edmonds' request will need the support of the Maine Legislature before it could be put as a referendum to Maine voters. The bond issue, LD 756, would provide the funding to restore and renovate some of the aging facilities and in certain cases fund new construction as well. The bond issue would provide funding to communities through the existing New Century Community Program.

This program is made up of Cultural Affairs Council agencies including the Maine Arts Commission, Maine State Library, Maine State Archives, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, Maine State Museum, Maine Historical Society and Maine Humanities Council. The New Century Community Fund has already secured and distributed $3.2 million in Maine's communities through a combination of grants and services. The Fund would need continuing Bond support to spur growth in the Creative Economy.

In an interview with Maine Public Radio, Gov. Baldacci said that he sees the museums, theaters, and other cultural facilities as economic anchors in Maine's rural communities. Baldacci has recently been at the forefront of the state's vision to capitalize on the economic potential of creative businesses and assets. In the State of the State address in January, the Governor established a permanent Creative Economy Council and outlined his economic strategy for the coming term.

He emphasized the importance of not only science and technology but the Creative Economy as well. Among his recommendations is a proposal to invest in the Creative Economy as part of his state budget saying, "Our budget proposes new efforts to support the Creative Economy at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, at our film office, in arts education, and at our new Office of Innovation. As a state we must continue to embrace arts, culture and technology as an economic engine…"

What are the numbers?

The idea has been gathering strength since the "creative economy" was first studied in a report published in 2000 by The New England Council called, "The Role of Arts and Culture in New England's Economic Competitiveness." They found that Maine and New England have a larger percentage of creative workers and that these businesses are growing significantly even as other sectors have lost ground. The study showed that they bring in about $6.6 billion and are an important part of both rural and urban communities.

The job outlook for Maine Artists is good. According to the Maine Department of Labor's "Maine Employment Outlook to 2010," the job of Fine Artist, which includes Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators is expected to grow 22%, from a roster of 565 in 2000 to an expected 691 in 2010. The position of Graphic Designers is expected to grow 30%, Floral Designers 12%, and Fashion Designers 16%. The Set and Exhibit Designer position is expected to grow 21%. And good news for actors, their job category is expected to grow 22% from 86 full time actors listed in 2000 to 105 in 2010. Positions in Entertainment are expected to grow 25%.

Overall, with all Arts occupations combined, the average projected growth over ten years to 2010 is projected at 8.1%.

With a desire to maximize the positive impact on the future of Maine's economy, public and private groups have joined in a series of forums set up by The Maine Arts Commission at the Governor's request. Held throughout the state, these forums brought together a wide variety of creative entrepreneurs including artists, software developers, boat builders and craftsmen of all sorts along with non profit cultural organizations. Their findings and direction became part of The Blaine House Conference on the Creative Economy held in May of 2004, and a report accepted by Governor Baldacci the following September.

In order to accomplish the kind of economic stimulus recommended, the Governor has set up several goals outlined on his web site (www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/vision/culture.html). He advocates for the promotion of the Arts in Maine's public schools, support for the New Century Community Program (a public/private program administering state matching grants to Maine communities) and a revitalization of downtown and village centers.

According to the website, historic buildings, cultural centers, libraries and museums are all assets that can be used to foster economic and community growth. He sees cultural tourism arising more and more as part of Maine's Creative Economy, helping to sustain the cultural resources eventually, rather than becoming an ongoing tax burden.

First in a series

In the next segment on Maine's Creative Economy, The Monument will explore how some local communities are embracing the arts and what if any impact it has had on their economies.