Mobilize the creative sector by positioning the Department of Art, Culture  + Tourism as a leader in creative economic development

Catalyze Providence’s creativity to leverage economic, social, and cultural capital.
Providence’s creative workforce and enterprises create jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and enhance the City’s quality of life. This workforce includes: entrepreneurs creating companies, people employed in both not-for-profit and commercial organizations, and the legions of self-employed creative workers. This plan mobilizes the City’s remarkable creative assets to help stimulate the economic recovery for Providence and contribute to the City’s long-term prosperity.

Recent research studies document the creative sector’s significant economic impact. Creative enterprises are a formidable industry in the United States. As of January 2008, 6,318 people work for 1,231 arts-related businesses in Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1 (Americans for the Arts, 2008). In Providence, nonprofit arts and cultural organizations generate $111.81 million annually in local economic activity. This spending supports 2,759 full-time equivalent jobs, generates $55.56 million in household income to local residents, and delivers $11.08 million in local and state government tax revenue (Americans for the Arts, 2007).
 
Outcomes of cultural planning

• The Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism (AC+T), with an expanded role, will be a leader in economic development for the creative sector.
• Creative enterprises — in arts, humanities, cultural heritage, media and entertainment, design and creative businesses — will drive Providence’s robust economy and guide the City in implementing creative solutions to complex urban problems.
• Creative professionals will join other critical civic leaders in shaping and implementing the City’s economic development, workforce growth, and sustainability initiatives.
• The City will fully realize Providence the Creative Capital with adequate recognition for, and investment in, the creative sector.
• Providence will be recognized as a center for film, design, and entertainment because conditions will exist for these creative industries to thrive and generate work.