| The Findings of a 2007 study documented in unprecedented scope and detail the annual economic impact of Minnesota’s individual artists. Seven studies were produced, including six regional and one statewide report, which explored both the economic impact of artists and looked at their access to health care and retirement plans. To see the Regional Reports, click on the map below.
By All Measures, the results were impressive: How Can We Help Artists, and Therefore Our Communities Thrive? To retain this important community resource and attract more individual artists to live and work in Minnesota we need to improve the quality of life for individual artists and recognize them for the economic and cultural contributions they make to this state. We find that the artist population is twice as likely as the rest of the Minnesota population to go without health insurance. Partly, this reflects the problems America is having in providing health care to all its citizens. When non-arts policy makers are looking at ways to make sure that all Americans have access to health care and to a secure retirement, attention should be directed at why artists are so much less likely to be insured. How can we, as individuals, help artists thrive in Minnesota? Here are some things that we suggest: - Support increased funding at the local, state and national level for individual artists and the organizations that employ and assist them. - Demand that public art be a part of new building projects in your neighborhood, county and state. - Attend local dance and theatre productions, buy local art and see local bands. - Commission a piece of art or a song to commemorate events in your life. - Enroll your child in art classes, music lessons, or an after school theatre program. - Serve on a board of directors or volunteer for an organization that works with artists. - Take a class or attend a workshop to create your own art and explore your own creative passions. Economic Impact: Region by Region: Every region in Minnesota is home to working artists and every region sees economic benefits from those artists’ work. While there are interesting regional differences, there are benefits from artist economic activity everywhere you look. Regional Data: Click on your regional arts council district to find the economic impact of the arts and culture in your area: Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 | Region 4 | Region 5 | Region 6/8
Statewide Highlights: This report presents the findings of a study measuring the economic impact of the spending by Minnesota’s individual artists during 2005. Minnesota is home to 19,676 individual artists. Artistic spending by these artists totaled $250.1 million during 2005. $205.2 million of those expenditures (82 percent) were made to merchants and businesses located within the State of Minnesota, and therefore have an impact on Minnesota’s economy. Average artistic expenditures of the state’s individual artists during 2005 was $14,773 per artist. Median artistic income of full-time artists was $21,841. Every region in Minnesota is home to working artists and every region sees economic benefits from those artists’ work. Sixty two percent of Minnesota’s artists live in the seven county Metro Area, while artists are a slightly larger percentage of the population in the Arrowhead than in the rest of the state (other than the Metro Area). Unsurprisingly, the seven county Metro Area benefits most from the economic impact of the state’s artists because that area holds the greatest concentration of artists. However, there are interesting regional differences and there are benefits from artist economic activity throughout Minnesota. Artists in the Arrowhead reported that they make more money on a per capita basis both from their art and from other activity than do Metro artists, and the Arrowhead has the largest percentage of artists reporting that they work full time in the arts (30 percent). The Arrowhead also has the highest percentage of retired/hobbyist artists (26 percent). In contrast, nearly 70 percent of artists in Southwest Minnesota reported that they work part-time as artists. Southeast and Central Minnesota artists volunteer the most hours in their communities. These two areas also hold the highest voting participation rates. Central Minnesota’s artists are also most likely to report that they are covered by health insurance (only 6 percent uninsured), while Southwest Minnesota’s artists are least likely to report having health insurance (17 percent uninsured). Central Minnesota’s artists are most likely to have no retirement plan (39 percent), while Northwest Minnesota’s artists are most likely to be covered by a retirement plan (30 percent are not covered). Acknowledgements Artists Count: The Economic Impact of Minnesota’s Individual Artists (2007) is a statewide study conducted by lead organizations Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), Springboard for the Arts, and the Minnesota Crafts Council (MCC), which was primarily funded by The McKnight Foundation. Many additional partners assisted in the data collection and are listed below. The lead organizations contracted with Americans for the Arts to create the economic models for the statewide and six regional area studies, and to also provide secure web-based surveying tools.LEAD ORGANIZATIONS: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Springboard for the Arts Minnesota Craft Council The Minnesota Crafts Council, an artist member organization for over 30 years, has been responsible for the Minnesota Crafts Festival and the MCC Fall Show, two premier juried venues exhibiting the work of over 100 fine craft artists at these annual events. MCC published the Craft Connection a quarterly magazine featuring fine craft artists and produced professional and aesthetic development workshops. MCC’s signature was programs for artists by artists. PROJECT DIRECTORS: PROJECT MANAGER: STAFF SUPPORT: DESIGNER: AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS: MAJOR FUNDING: PARTNER ORGANZATIONS: |
On This Page: Regional Findings Statewide Findings Acknowledgments Downloads: |
