 Southwest Minnesota includes:Arts Council Regions 6/8 and 9 Counties: Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, LeSueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Waseca, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine. Key Cities: Fairmont, Hutchinson, Litchfield, Mankato, Marshall, St. Peter, Waseca, Willmar, Worthington. Report Highlights:Southwest Minnesota stood out in several ways. The artists in this area had the highest percentage (89 percent) of their artistic expenditures inside the state of Minnesota as opposed to spending outside of the state. This area also had the lowest percentage (6 percent) working full-time on their art, and the highest percentage (69 percent) of its artists indicating that they work part-time as artists. Perhaps as a result, this area’s artists also had the lowest percentage of their income coming from their art (10 percent), and the lowest average income from their art ($3,062). Unfortunately, this area’s artists were also least likely of all the artists in Minnesota to be covered by health care (17 percent without health insurance). A high level (33 percent) also had no retirement plan. Southwest Minnesota had the second highest level of volunteering by its artists over 20 hours per week.Southwest Minnesota is home to 1,073 individual artists. Artistic spending by these artists totaled $8.1 million during 2005. $7.2 million of those expenditures (89 percent) were made to merchants and businesses located within the state of Minnesota, and therefore have an impact on Minnesota’s economy. This spending supported 252 jobs, generated $4.9M in resident household income and $831,000 in state and local government revenue. Average artistic expenditures of Southwest Minnesota’s individual artists (full-time, part-time and hobbyist) during 2005 was $7,535 per artist, compared to the state average of $13,572. Median artist income for full-time artists in this area was $11,953 compared to the state median of $21,841. Area’s 2005 population: 508,702 We would be happy to give presentations about the results of this study to any group. Just call MCA at 651-251-0868 to schedule a presentation. |
DOWNLOADS: SW Minnesota Summary |