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Written by Stephanie Fortunato
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Monday, 19 October 2009 |
Create conditions for creative workers to thrive in Providence
Support a vibrant community of individual artists, scholars, writers, designers, and entertainers to sustain the creative city.
Many creative individuals call Providence home. Visual and performing artists, designers, writers, and scholars are critical to Providence’s creativity, prosperity, and reputation as the region’s Creative Capital. Creative workers and a creative city are mutually interdependent. Providence will not succeed without the support of its creative individuals (and vice versa). Their livelihood and quality of life depends on the city’s ability to thrive, as a dynamic, creative city.
Providence is home to more artists per capita than any other U.S. city. Individual artists, designers, and other creative workers are responsible for the City’s rich diversity of disciplines, cultural institutions, creative industries, and cultural products. Creative workers are the basis of Providence’s national reputation as a center for creativity. Accordingly, the City recognizes the tremendous benefits associated with the presence of many different kinds of artists – artists stimulate the local economy and enhance the quality of the city’s social and cultural life.
While artists and other creative workers are the foundation of the creative economy, individual creative workers are vulnerable. Nearly two thirds of Providence artists responding to the
2008 Creative Providence survey reported they must work at non-arts jobs to support themselves or their families. Health insurance, affordable studios and housing, and revenue are critical needs. The recession has exacerbated their struggle to be creative and make a living.
Outcomes of Cultural Planning
- Providence artists and creators will be recognized as community leaders who make significant contributions to the social and creative capital of the city.
- Providence will be a dynamic, regional arts market and center for creativity.
- Individual artists will have access to a robust infrastructure for technical assistance and support, allowing them to generate adequate revenues, working capital, and to reduce costs through information, training, marketing, online directories, grants, financing, and earned income.
- Artists will have access to multiple options for creative workspaces, living spaces, and presentation venues.
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Creative Providence Cultural Assessment Findings Report (
Art New England Dec 09 -Jan 10
