The "Creative Model" for Economic Development

Skill Building

 Speaker:
Jerry Hembd
JHEMBD@uwsuper.edu
University of Wisconsin
The recent popularity of Richard Florida's book The Rise of the Creative Class has raised general awareness of the importance of arts and creative industries to the nation's economy. Creativity is seen as the source of economic wealth with people as the key economic asset and place replacing the corporation as the fundamental business building block. The "creative model" for economic development helps communities retain the businesses they have, incubate start-up businesses, and attract new businesses. Numerous states have analyzed the state of their creative economy and developed strategies to make their state and communities more "creative places." Wisconsin has recently entered into this arena, with organizations such as the Wisconsin Arts Board and Arts Wisconsin recasting themselves as important economic development resources and advocates. This session starts with an overview of the nature of the creative economy, how it has been measured, and its perceived roles in economic development. Contrasts across state-level approaches are outlined, including the recent "creative economy roundtable" in Wisconsin. Implications for economic development at the local level, both rural and urban, are posited. Finally, initial findings from a research project to measure the economic impacts of craftspersons and artists in an eleven-county area in Northwest Wisconsin are shared in order to highlight issues that surround the measurement and enhancement of "creative industries."

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For more information about the conference, contact the conference co-chairs: Cindy Bigger, cbigger@umn.edu, (888) 241-0843, or Rick Maurer, richard.maurer@uky.edu, (859) 257-7582.

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