This correspondence will become a public record.

Arts and culture-related industries, also known as ³creative industries,² provide direct economic benefits to states and communities:  They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases.  These industries also provide an array of other benefits, such as infusing other industries with creative insight for their products and services and preparing workers to participate in the contemporary workforce.  In addition, because they enhance quality of life, the arts and culture are an important complement to community development, enriching local amenities and attracting young professionals to an area.

Community leaders as well as private citizens recognize the importance of the creative sector to their state and local economies and ability to compete in the global marketplace.  A number of factors underscore the connection between economic competitiveness and creativity.  For example:

• Creative and new media industries are growing in number and playing increasingly prominent economic and social roles (ie: recording studies, film production, podcasting and global webcasts)
• Companies¹ decisions about where to locate their businesses often are influenced by factors such as the ready availability of a creative workforce and the quality of life to employees;
• Arts and culture can play a major role in community development and redevelopment by creating new jobs as well as fostering an environment and amenities that attract young workers; and
• Tourism centered on arts and culture can contribute to state and local economic growth by providing a diversified and sustainable means for creating jobs and attracting revenue.

For these reasons and many more, Summer of the Arts (providing our community with free world class festivals and entertainment)  deserves an ongoing investment by our council at least at the current level of $60,000 per fiscal year.

By continuing your investment in Summer of the Arts and incorporating arts and culture into your economic development plans, Iowa City continues to reap numerous benefits-economic, social, civic and cultural-that help generate a more stable, creative workforce; new tourism; and a more livable Iowa City.

Thank you,

Mark Ginsberg
M.C. Ginsberg, Inc.
110 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240


Print Version