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Last fall, we introduced Creative Columbus to readers on Columbus Underground. Later that year, many of you responded to our survey of creative sector employers, sole proprietors, employees, and students. Thank you all so much for your input and participation. The resulting study – Creative Columbus: a picture of the creative economy of Central Ohio – is now out. Creative Columbus takes an in-depth look at our region’s arts, design, media, and marketing industries, including their size, characteristics, magnitude, and direct economic value.
Some highlights from the findings:
- Central Ohio’s creative sector generates annually over $3 billion in business receipts, $932 million in employee income, and $67 million in state and local tax revenues.
- Central Ohio’s creative sector employs over 18,000 people. That’s not even counting nearly 7,000 sole proprietors nor a significant portion of people in creative fields working for businesses outside the sector such as law firms, insurance companies, or retailers.
- Central Ohio has a concentration of fashion designers that’s 3.6 times the national average. In fact our region is over-represented across a range of design occupations: graphic design, architecture, interiors, etc.
- 41% of the respondents from the employee survey group work in downtown Columbus, but only 3% live there.
- health insurance, retirement, and other benefits was one of the most frequently identified areas where improvements can benefit the creative economy.
For more highlights, click here (PDF)
For the full report and related documents, click here.
Wow. 116 pages. I’m going to need some time to read through this whole thing. :D
Yes please send cliff notes when done!
Cool!!! This is the first I have heard of this study. I will have to give this a closer read, though it will take a while. I always wondered how much of an impact the creative community played on the city, and suburban, economics. I hope that this will push the city to put more resources to building (or creating) a larger presence in creative business endeavors (film, music, art, design, etc.). It could be an area where Columbus could grow a unique identity; something the city as been striving for and sorely needs.
I agree Neil Jaye. In fact, “Creative Columbus” could be just the moniker we’ve been searching for…
Or is it in this case just an attempt to get more students interested in ccad? That seems to be the origin of the info.
Also if you want arts in Columbus the very first way to start is by leaving the house on a Saturday, seeing a local band, buy something hand made, or go see a performace art show and support directly. in the end it’s the only way to truly support our creative community.
While I agree those are great ideas and things to do Core, I also think the “creative” sector goes WAY beyond that.
Hopefully this study can serve as a great tool to help the city validate their efforts in what loosely might be called “the creative sector”.