Creative New Mexico Advocates
An important part of Creative New Mexico's purpose is to advocate for increased government support for arts and cultural programs as an investment in our creative economy. As a prime example for 2014, Creative New Mexico supports increased funding for the Department of Cultural Affair’s New Mexico Arts grants program. Artists and arts organizations throughout the state receive funding through this program to deliver arts education, community productions, and arts and culture related economic development.
A recent study confirms that arts and cultural activities contribute 3.2% to our national economic activity. In fact, arts and culture contributes more to the nation’s GDP than U.S. travel and tourism. That is the finding of an economic report released by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce) on December 5, 2013. This is the first federal effort to provide in depth analysis of the arts and cultural sector’s contributions to current dollar gross domestic product.
In New Mexico, the economic impact of arts and culture is even higher on a percentage basis than nationally and is an important jobs creator. This has been measured over the past few years by UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Studies have been completed for Farmington, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Silver City, Bernalillo County and Santa Fe County. The collective economic impact is several billion each year.
We ask our legislators to increase funding in the New Mexico Arts grant program as part of programs to add jobs in New Mexico. Funding for New Mexico Arts has been substantially cut in recent years, and it is time to restore full funding for the grant program. This program, along with proposed increases to the Main Street and Arts and Culture District programs and increased funding for the Department of Tourism’s marketing and outreach programs will improve our economy and create jobs across the state.
A recent study confirms that arts and cultural activities contribute 3.2% to our national economic activity. In fact, arts and culture contributes more to the nation’s GDP than U.S. travel and tourism. That is the finding of an economic report released by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce) on December 5, 2013. This is the first federal effort to provide in depth analysis of the arts and cultural sector’s contributions to current dollar gross domestic product.
In New Mexico, the economic impact of arts and culture is even higher on a percentage basis than nationally and is an important jobs creator. This has been measured over the past few years by UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Studies have been completed for Farmington, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Silver City, Bernalillo County and Santa Fe County. The collective economic impact is several billion each year.
We ask our legislators to increase funding in the New Mexico Arts grant program as part of programs to add jobs in New Mexico. Funding for New Mexico Arts has been substantially cut in recent years, and it is time to restore full funding for the grant program. This program, along with proposed increases to the Main Street and Arts and Culture District programs and increased funding for the Department of Tourism’s marketing and outreach programs will improve our economy and create jobs across the state.