Cultural Data in Planning and Economic Development Chris Dwyer, RMC Research Sponsor: Rockefeller Foundation
A Decade of Attempts to Quantify Arts and Culture Economic impact studies Community indicators movement Audience information for marketing Quality of life indices Creative class, Creative cities, and Creative economy Sponsors: public art agencies, advocacy groups, philanthropies, research universities, research firms
Wide Range of Approaches Data Development New uses of existing routine data sources Data collection pilots Databases that organize existing information Research Studies Descriptive, correlational, ethnographic Theory building
So Who Will Use the Data Sets and the Study Findings?
Are the Data Sets Potentially Useful for Marketing specific areas Identifying services and resources to spur development Allocating development resources and incentives/loans Placement of incubator spaces Locating and designing cultural and other facilities, venues, and amenities Preserving valued assets and so forth
Typology: Data Sets 1. Data about Employment in Cultural Jobs and Cultural Fields 2. Data about the Economic Impact of Cultural Activity 3. Data about Cultural Assets 4. Data about Infrastructure Supporting Cultural Activity 5. Data about Participation in Cultural Activities 6. Data about Public Opinion of Value of Cultural Activity
Utility, Potential Influence, Relevance Have you used similar data? If so how? How could the data be used? What decisions would it inform? What would make the data more useful, e.g., pairing? level? frequency? Any concerns about the nature/quality/validity of information?
1. Data about Employment: Cultural Jobs and Cultural Fields What? Why? Cluster analysis of related occupations and industries. Jobs as indicator of economic vitality. Concentrations of jobs as proxy for a vital economy. Features Follow trends relative to other regions. Use existing secondary data sources.
2. Data about the Economic Impact of Cultural Activity What? Why? Direct and indirect spending employers, visitor attractors, related businesses. Advocacy: Output-orientation for public sector investments. Features Credibility issues depending on methodologies. Challenge of capturing impact beyond nonprofit sector.
3. Data about Cultural Assets What? Why? Inventories, directories, and asset maps specific to place. Marketing sense of place. Recognition for preservation and support. Features Goes beyond just building and sites.
4. Data about Cultural Infrastructure What? Why? Information about wide range of supports. Marketing to attract cultural activity. Preservation of existing assets. Features Range of information about opportunity: financial conditions, markets, employment, venue, incentive, and so forth.
5. Data about Participation in Cultural Activities What? Why? Features Surveys and portions of surveys about levels of activity. Extent and frequency of participation are measures of value. Perspectives differ on what constitutes cultural participation. Efforts to broaden perspectives to include amateur participators, traditional practices, and so forth.
6. Data about Public Opinion of the Value of Cultural Activity What? Why? Surveys and portions of surveys about value and preferences. The public will support what it values short and long term. Features Value can extend beyond participation. May include relative weighing of preferences in and outside cultural field.
Research Studies What findings are compelling? How could the information be used? What decisions would it inform? What else do you need to know?
Selected Thematic Findings 1. Cultural investments promote economic development. 2. The nature and location of venues matter to equity of cultural participation. 3. Cultural participation, especially in informal arts, enhances community building.
1. Cultural investments promote economic development. Development in Low-Income Neighborhoods Philadelphia Poverty declines, population increases with high level cultural engagement. In low income areas, high level cultural engagement is related to greaterthan-average property value increase. In most distressed areas, high level of cultural engagement strongly associated with decrease in poverty. Economic Revitalization Vermont Council on Rural Development Dramatic increases in local meals and sales tax revenues correlated with renovation of Oprah House and restoration of downtown block.
Cultural investments promote economic development (continued). Investment Dividends from Job Creation - Greater Philadelphia High benefit-cost ratios from investing in attracting media production. Cost per job: $6,000. Estimated tax revenues over eight years: $3.6 million. Artists as Inexpensive Revitalizers Twin Cities Artist concentration draws businesses, visitors, overall economic activity. Less expensive to attract artists than subsidize firms to relocate or build large arts facilities.
2. The nature and location of venues matter Local Matters to equity of cultural participation. Cultural participation is highly correlated with local presence of cultural organizations. Those who participate locally also participate regionally. Public Space Matters People are more likely to attend cultural events at community locations (schools, parks, churches) than specialized arts venues. Performance in public spaces raises the importance for ethnic groups. Decentralization Matters Multiple decentralized smaller arts spaces have greater impact on communities than centralized arts districts. National surveys, correlational studies, qualitative h/ th hi
3. Cultural participation, especially in informal arts, enhances community building. At ALL income levels, frequent arts participators also active in civic, religious, political activities. Cultural participation highly correlated with social diversity bridge geographic, ethnic, social class divides. Informal arts participation bridges social boundaries. Art-making connects immigrant cultures to mainstream civic life. 70-80% report arts participation helps better understand other cultures/perspectives. National surveys, correlational studies, qualitative research/ethnographies