Creative Communities
Spurred by the work of economist Richard Florida and numerous national studies documenting the economic impact of America’s thousands of arts organizations, the beginning of the 21st century has seen American cities embracing the arts to foster economic development. As Florida postulates, America’s innovative intellectual power has become particularly footloose in the last decades, settling not where jobs beckon, but in places with attractive qualities of life; they bring their innovative power with them, and the jobs follow. Among the most attractive features of the urban landscape for the “creative class” is a lively arts scene.

Creativity & Manufacturing
As the global marketplace becomes ever more dependent on customization and diversification of product lines, artists are also playing a critical role in product development processes. In a manufacturing state, which has lost numerous jobs over the past six years, it is more important than ever that Michigan's development efforts support those industries that will propel this region into a successful economic future. There are numerous examples across the country where arts or creative industry incubators have been successful in revitalizing neighborhoods, creating jobs, launching new businesses and generating revenue.