What is the “Creative Economy”?

The creative economy includes the full range of the arts and culture:  fine arts as well as popular, ethnic, commercial and design arts.  It also includes cultural events, such as festivals and celebrations, concerts and dances in the parks, and the preservation of history and heritage.  It encompasses all individuals, businesses and  nonprofit organizations that directly or indirectly produce cultural products or services.   Also, thinkers and doers trained, whether formally or informally, in specific cultural and artistic skills.

Creative individuals include visual artists, performing artists, designers, media artists, film makers, arts educators, craftspeople, architects, writers, production technicians, volunteers and others.

Creative businesses include advertising, marketing, architecture, design, digital media, music and dance clubs, art galleries, art-related retail stores, film production and post-production, art-related printer, live theaters, festivals, and others.

Creative nonprofits include all types of arts and cultural organizations, professional and volunteer association, arts-related departments within a college or university, and others.

*Excerpt from The Cultural Collaborative