(Indianapolis, Indiana) The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today the
release of the complete, first statewide research review of Indiana’s Creative
Economy and Employment Impact. One month after the release of the study’s
executive summary, the detailed report breaks down the statewide research to
match the 11 IAC service regions.
As revealed in the report’s executive summary, nearly
161,000 Hoosiers are employed in Indiana’s Creative Economy.
“For the purpose of comparison, this number represents more
people than the population of Indiana’s third largest city,” said Lewis C.
Ricci, IAC Executive Director.
During the 2016 research period, Creative Occupation jobs
with Creative Industry employers totaled 36,150. Creative Occupations with
non-Creative Industry employers totaled 54,333, while “other” jobs with
Creative Industry employers totaled 70,138.
“While Indiana did experience growth in its Creative Economy
since the Great Recession, generally speaking the state lags behind the
national average in growth and per capita employment in Creative Industries and
Occupations,” Ricci stated. “That said, Indiana is very close to the nation in
some segments of Creative Industries and Employment, such as commercial
printing.”
One of the surprising findings of the research was the large
percentage of Creative Economy workers who were self-employed. Fifty-seven
percent of the Creative Occupation jobs surveyed were self-employed. This
compares with a national average of just 20 percent.
“Indiana’s strong self-employed Creative Economy workers may
largely exist due to fewer opportunities to work in payroll positions with
Creative Industry employers,” Ricci observed. “The difference between national
and state self-employment wages aren’t as drastic as the differences in salary
for payroll jobs. However, Indiana’s lower cost of living compared with other
states could make it an ideal location for self-employed emerging artists and
other creative entrepreneurs.”
Not surprisingly, the research revealed that central Indiana
and surrounding towns of Columbus, Nashville, and Bloomington make up the hub
of Indiana’s creative activity. The research raises questions about the
influence of cultural factors on creative opportunities outside the central
region of the state.
“Declining population, higher unemployment, and lower-paying
Creative Economy jobs may well be factors working against creative development
in our more rural areas,” Ricci said.
Another significant aspect of the Creative Economy review is
that previous national research into creative industries has not captured many
self-employed creative individuals, and those working in creative jobs in other industries.
The economic and employment impact study was conducted by
researchers from Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne, and evolved
from a regional study commissioned by Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne. Arts
United is the IAC’s Regional Arts Partner in northeast Indiana. Additional
collaboration on the project was provided by the Indiana University Public
Policy Institute.
A copy of the full Creative Economy report can be found at http://www.in.gov/arts/files/Creative-Economy-Report_2016.pdf
The Indiana
Arts Commission is dedicated to the vision of the arts everywhere, every day,
for everyone in Indiana.
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