2017 Creative Minnesota Report about North Central Minnesota To be Released at Presentation

New Study Looks at Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture on Regional Economy and What Artists Need to Make a Living and a Life in the Area

SAINT PAUL, MN: A new study on the health and impact of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in North Central Minnesota will be released at 1:30 PM on April 29, 2017, by Creative Minnesota, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and the Region 2 Arts Council. The presentation of the results will be made in at the Arts Expo at the Rail River Folk School, 303 Railroad Street SW, Bemidji, followed by a brief discussion of the economic impact of the arts and culture in the region.

As the most comprehensive report ever done about the sector’s health and economic impact, Creative Minnesota 2017 fills in the gaps of available information about Minnesota’s cultural field and seeks to improve our understanding of its importance to our quality of life and economy.Creative Minnesota 2017 quantifies the impact and needs of Minnesota’s artists and creative workers, updates previous studies on the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations, and reviews other research about the arts sector in the state.

The report includes both new, original research and analysis of data created by others. Creative Minnesota’s research is available for free at creativemn.org.

The presentation will show astonishing results for both the state and for North Central Minnesota.

On a statewide basis, the study found that the combined statewide economic Impact of nonprofit arts organizations, their audiences and artists and creative workers is over $2 billion annually. This includes $819 million spent by nonprofit arts organizations, $564 million spent by audiences, and the direct spending of artists in their communities, on things such as art supplies and studio rental, of $644 million in the state.

Every region of the state was found to have a robust arts economy.

Among many other regional results that will be revealed at the presentation, in the area that the Region 2 Arts Council serves, there is a combined economic impact by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and artists of $10,841,000 million per year.

The study also shows strong support by Minnesotans for the arts, and provides guidance on what artists need to make a living and a life in the state.

Many regional organizations were part of the study:

Akeley Chamber of Commerce, Bagley Art in the Park, Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning, Headwaters Science Center, Hospitality Initiative of Servant Hearts, KOJB FM Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Lakeland Public Television KAWE/KAWB, Menahga Area Historical Society, Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference, Rail River Folk School, Red Lake Economic Development and Planning, Turtle Lake Township/History Project, Vocalmotive, Watermark Art Center/Bemidji Community Arts Council, Beltrami County Historical Society, Bemidji Chorale, Inc., Bemidji First City of Arts Studio Cruise, Bemidji Sculpture Walk, Blank Canvas Gallery and Education Center, Clearbrook-Gonvick Summer Recreation, Clearwater County Historical Society, Depot Preservation Alliance, Headwaters School of Music & the Arts, Jackpine Writers' Bloc, Inc., Lake of the Woods Art Guild, Lake of the Woods County Historical Society, Mask and Rose Women's Theater Collective, Minnesota's Historic Northwest, Nemeth Art Center, Inc, North Beltrami Heritage Center, Northern Artist Association, Northern Light Opera Company, Park Rapids Area Community Band, Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Pequana Playhouse, Region 2 Arts Council

Creative Minnesota 2017 was developed by a collaborative of arts and culture funders in partnership with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA).

Major Sponsoring Organizations:

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) is a statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts and conducts original research. MCA works with over 40,000 arts advocates in Minnesota.