Otis Data Proves It: Creativity is Big Business in Los Angeles

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

Otis College of Art and Design Zeroes in on LA's Creative Engine

Today my alma mater hosted an impressive morning gathering at the Skirball Cultural Center. Art nonprofit organizations, mayors, business CEOs, cultural commissioners, educators, fine and performing artists came to hear Otis College of Art and Design President Sammy Hoi give an eye-opening presentation. It definitely woke up anybody feeling sleepy due to the early hour. One wondered, will artists and designers rescue the economy?

We've been hearing more and more about the creative economy. Some communities -- Austin, TX, Fairfax, VA and Asheville, NC come to mind -- have made a conscious commitment to invest in their creative economies. They are drawing in those types of folks to form a lively community. In fact, the first-ever "National Conference on the Creative Economy" for the business community was held in Fairfax in 2007, drawing such popular economic speakers as Richard Florida and Thomas Friedman.

Now at long last, the original city built on creativity has our own report. Otis has headed a study tying actual numbers to the financial engine that creativity-based jobs generate in the Los Angeles region. If there's any doubt about this importance, putting dollar figures to it brings clarity. That an art college has taken the lead to identify this for the city made me proud. I was very surprised that it hadn't been generated by the Chamber of Commerce or the Mayor's office.

There's plenty of good news to report. But of course, as a long-time art educator, I wring my hands over the lack of substantial school art programs. That was brought up as recommendation in need of overhaul. It just astounds me that Texas not only has maintained their programs, but in the districts where I worked, they wouldn't have thought of building a new elementary school without an art room. In the last district where I was, they always build two art and two music rooms in each elementary school!! And that's not only in the richest part of town, but in every neighborhood. Folks, we can do this here! We've got a magnificent creative economy to maintain.

Okay, enough of the soap box. Let me share some of the items that jumped out at me during the two hour presentation.