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Americans for the Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund endorse the Creative Workforce Investment Act, legislation introduced by Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA). The Senate companion of the Creative Economy Revitalization Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) along with Sen. Alex Padilla. The bill would help invest in the creative economy through the creation of a workforce grants program to employ artists and writers to create publicly available art.
The Creative Economy Revitalization Act would:
- Employ workers nationwide by creating a competitive workforce grants program within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
- Administer grants to eligible government, non-profit, for-profit organizations, and state and local workforce boards through the Department of Labor in coordination with the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Require that grantees create art that is public and accessible to the public, such as free concert series, large-scale murals, photography exhibits, published stories, or dance performances.
“In New Mexico, we know that our creative economy — the people who make the beautiful art we get to enjoy — have the power to move us all while creating good-paying jobs and growing our economy,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. “We often overlook this economic engine and don’t invest publicly in this important industry the same way we do in agriculture or manufacturing. This bill would change that, it will create a new, competitive grant program so every community in America has the chance to capitalize on the transformative power of art, so artists have the backing they need to create innovative public art, and so our creative economy can continue to grow and thrive.”
“New Mexico is known for our vibrant arts culture, which has shaped and defined New Mexico for generations. New Mexican artists enrich our communities, preserve our traditions, and boost local economies,” said Senator Luján. “I’m proud to introduce the Creative Workforce Investment Act to establish a workforce grant program that both supports local New Mexican artists and creates public art for communities across New Mexico to enjoy. This legislation provides vital support and opportunities for New Mexico creatives to continue their contributions to our state.”
Americans for the Arts and Americans for the Arts Action Fund strongly support the efforts of these Members of Congress.
“Americans for the Arts endorses the Creative Workforce Investment Act that will create significant investments in the creative economy,” said Nolen Bivens, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “The arts are a national asset, and our country thrives because artists and creative workers are a part of the collective workforce helping to transcend our society culturally, socially, and educationally. All of this, in turn, supports jobs and economic prosperity, as found in our recent Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study. Supporting private-public partnerships that create art that is publicly accessible for all of us to experience creates a sense of community that brings us closer together.”
The Creative Workforce Investment Act aims to spark investment into a creative economy that is a serious economic driver for our country. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported last year that Arts and Cultural economic activity accounted for 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), or $1.02 trillion, in 2021. This new high-water mark represents a larger percentage of GDP than the transportation, construction, and agriculture sectors. According to the AEP 6, In 2022, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity—$73.3 billion in spending by the organizations, which leveraged an additional $78.4 billion in event-related spending by their audiences. The impact of this economic activity is far-reaching, supporting 2.6 million jobs, generating $29.1 billion in tax revenue, and providing $101 billion in personal income to residents. AEP6 sends a strong signal that when we support the arts, we are investing in both economic and community well-being.