State arts agencies use their deep knowledge of the creative sector to provide services to their constituents, strengthen communities and bolster the economy. In Louisiana, this entails tapping into the rich musical legacy of the state to support artists in an ever-changing music industry. In November 2025, the Louisiana Music Program transitioned into the Louisiana…
Apprenticeships are a growing state workforce development strategy that can boost the supply of trained workers available to key industries while helping workers attain higher earnings and greater career growth. A major benefit of these kinds of apprenticeships is that one can “earn as you learn” through on-the-job training and job placement. Nationwide, almost 700,000…
Research and development (R&D) labs are common in the fields of technology, medicine, engineering and manufacturing. They help entrepreneurs, scholars, industry experts and investors to explore new product ideas and find ways to bring them to market. What would happen if those same R&D assets were brought to bear on creative innovation and the arts…
Widely used for historic preservation and film, state tax credits offer a unique policy mechanism for advancing the creative economy and incentivizing industry investments. Colorado offers a recent example for the arts sector. In June 2025, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) announced $10 million in Community Revitalization Tax Credits for 10 projects across the state. Each…
The most recent data indicates that the economic value (in inflation-adjusted dollars) added by arts and culture industries has more than doubled over the past 25 years. Moreover, over the past five years, all states experienced increases in the value added from the creative economy. Supporting artists and creatives, who form the bedrock of a…
The Kentucky Arts Council (KAC) recently accepted 28 new artists into its prestigious Kentucky Crafted program, an initiative that helps visual and craft artists to grow their creative enterprises. Among the goals of the program are: encouraging the production of superb art and craft products handmade in Kentucky; helping Kentucky visual and craft artists sell…
Collaborations between state arts agencies and state tourism bodies can help states promote their distinctive cultural assets and create synergies between the creative industries and the travel and hospitality sectors. These partnerships can help to enhance both economic and social vitality while also boosting visibility, audiences and revenues for local artists and cultural institutions. The Wisconsin…
As state governments seek to leverage the economic power of the arts, multiple state arts agencies (SAAs) have been selected to assist in leading strategic plans for their states’ creative economies. State policymakers are seeking to capitalize on the outsize role the creative economy plays in both economic value added and jobs created, with arts…
In 2022, New Jersey’s arts service organizations came together through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Communities of Practice initiative. Through these convenings, the group strategized ways to address important issues affecting the arts field—issues like fair pay, salary transparency, workforce retention and sector sustainability. An outgrowth of this collaborative work was ArtsPay…
State arts agencies seek to showcase the rich tapestry of culture that exists within each state. Highlighting cultural traditions not only educates the public about the depth and diversity of cultures present in the state but encourages cultural tourism and positive economic impact. For Florida, music resonates through much of the state’s history and cultural…
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