A new report from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) estimates the impact that all those actors, writers, and artists have on the national economy.
"Talk all you want about 'cultural capital,' but it turns out art has a real, tangible impact on the national economy," writes Bill Bradley. The "Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account" is the first federal effort to analyze the impact of the arts and cultural sector on gross domestic product (GDP).
The BEA and NEA found that the two million people working in creative industries in 2011 "accounted for 3.2 percent — a grand total of $504 billion — of the country’s GDP," notes Bradley. "That’s more than tourism, which clocked in at 2.8 percent of the GDP."
“The positive value of arts and culture on society has been understood on a human level for millennia," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. "With this new effort, we are now able to quantify the impact of arts and culture on GDP for the very first time."
FULL STORY: Creative Work Has Real Impact On the Economy

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont