Developing the City of Williamsburg's Creative Economy
Nationwide, over the last two decades, there has been a growing movement linking arts and cultural assets with the economic development goals of creating jobs and wealth, connecting positive, sustained growth to the ability to create new products and services (Maine Arts Commission, 2004). Communities "with high concentrations of creative workers are also characterized by strong, growing economies...[and a shared set] of attributes that attract high concentrations of highly skilled creative workers...an abundance of recreational and cultural amenities, unique downtowns and neighborhoods, and widespread, visible expressions of creativity in public spaces" (The Rise of the Creative Class). As a result, regions and communities have launched targeted efforts to retain and attract creative workers by strengthening attributes that determine where they decide to live and work, leading to a stronger, more diversified, sustainable economy.
The College of William & Mary Office of Economic Development recently collaborated with the City of Williamsburg to write the white paper, "Developing the City of Williamsburg's Creative Economy".
Read the white paper: "Developing the City of Williamsburg's Creative Economy".
