Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), cochair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, stated that arts and culture is the third-largest sector in Maine, bringing about enhanced quality of life, improved education outcomes and revitalized local economies.

Karen McCarthy, senior legislative assistant to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), talked about how native and other artists generate prosperity in Alaska, making the arts a source of empowerment and resilience.

Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, shared research on the value of the arts to rural communities and noted the strategic investments being made to drive population growth, innovation and economic health via the arts.

Cyndy Andrus, mayor of Bozeman, Montana, highlighted Montana Arts Council programs that contribute to artists’ livelihoods and her state’s prosperity.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), cochair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, said investment in arts education and in the arts—from the local to the federal levels—helps rural communities thrive.

Chuck Fluharty, founder and president emeritus of the Rural Policy Research Institute, discussed his organization’s focus on the arts as a rural wealth driver and community bonding agent.

Tyler Hughes, performer and educator from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, shared the importance of the arts in Appalachian Virginia, then entertained attendees with tunes on his banjo.

Resources

NEW! Rural Prosperity through the Arts and Creative Sector: A Rural Action Guide for Governors and States

• Literature Review
• 50-State Field Scan
• Quantitative Data Sources for Understanding Rural Creative Economies

State Arts Agency Fact Sheet: Support for the Arts in Rural Communities

Infographic: State Arts Agencies Advancing Equity: Rural Equity