The Americans for the Arts, a national nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America, released an update of its Creative Industries report this past April.

This report examined the scope and economic importance of both the for-profit and non-profit arts across the country. It defined the creative industries as arts businesses that includes nonprofit museums, symphonies and theaters as well as for-profit film, architecture and design companies.

According to the study, “Arts businesses and the creative people they employ stimulate innovation, strengthen America’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, and play an important role in building and sustaining economic vibrancy.” This study uncovered that Minnesota is home to 13,835 arts-related businesses that employ 55,040 people.

The creative industries account for 4 percent of the total number of businesses located in Minnesota and 1.9 of the people they employ. Arts businesses in Minnesota have grown since the study results in 2008, which showed 11,050 arts-related businesses employing 52,949 people. Interestingly these results show an increase of 2,785 businesses and an increase of 2,091 people employed by the arts since the Legacy Amendment began in Minnesota.

In light of this research, the Austin Area Commission for the Arts is pleased to announce that they will be able to add to Minnesota’s arts-related employee count.

Grace Heimsness has accepted a full time position as the Marketing and Education Coordinator for the AACA. Among her responsibilities, she will be overseeing the new education program at the Austin ArtWorks Center, and will continue the marketing efforts she started with her festival internship.

Adding new employees would not be possible without gifts from our community. Special thank you to everyone who has donated to the AACA so far this year. We could not be successful without your financial support.