Some would say creativity is THE business of Los Angeles. Otis College of Art and Design has got the data to prove what tourists have always known -- the LA brand is a powerful economic draw and engine.
Otis College commissioned the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) to compile and analyze the "2008 Report on the Creative Economy of the Los Angeles Region." Maybe it's no surprise that a 90 year-old art education institution such as Otis recognizes that creativity and innovation are what will define and drive the 21st century. Good news for Angelenos: we don't have to try to invent a creative community from scratch. We're already here. It's robust, but rather unrecognized for the powerhouse that it is. That was the most surprising message, given how many jobs and tax revenue it generates.
For number crunchers, the data is undeniable. This is not frill or fluff. As was mentioned time and again, this is serious business. Almost a million jobs are directly and indirectly based on creative industries! This is mind-boggling. Each direct job in the creative industry supports 1.6 indirect jobs. The interconnecting web supports the entire region, even down to containers being unloaded at the port in San Pedro.
An impressive panel of business and community leaders, moderated by KCET's Val Zavala, shared personal insights about "Imagining a Creative Future." The CEOs of Mattel, Inc. and Hurley International (a subsidiary of Nike), the Mayor of El Segundo, and the directors of the California Arts Council and L.A. County Arts Commission were clear about the potential and needs of the creative community. Instead of being ignored by our government agencies, they need to play a bigger role in planning and using us. Considering the significant portion it generates in the 17th largest economy of the world, government and business leaders need to help ensure the future of L.A.'s creative community.
One of the biggest creative disconnects mentioned: the lack of art education in our K-12 schools, while the college and university opportunities are renowned. I aplauded the clarion call of Laura Zucker, Executive Director of L.A. Arts Commission: quadruple the effort to provide art education to the students in the region's 80 school districts. What a concept: educate our own kids to actually get some of these creative jobs, rather than importing talent from other countries. How are the schools in India and Russia and Asia providing a creative education superior to ours?
The second biggest creative disconnect: Los Angeles gives far less to support its creative community than other major cities such as New York, Seattle and Chicago. According to Arts For LA , we rank lowest in public, private, corporate, and individual support for the arts. Isn't it time we changed that? Wow. If you think we're a powerhouse now, just imagine what we can be with some fuel!
You can download the full report at: www.otis.edu
You can support the advocacy movement to improve our creative economy at www.artsforla.org
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