In Sacramento, creativity thrives. From the bustling streets of downtown to serene neighborhood parks, art galleries, murals, and cultural events bring people together and enrich the lives of both locals and visitors.
As the City of Sacramento aims to grow its creative sectors and ensure everyone has a chance to succeed, understanding its creative economy is key.
A recently released report titled “Sprout to Growth: Potential Pathways for Growing Sacramento’s Creative Economy” from Creative Startups and the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture aims to shed light on how to best develop Sacramento’s creative economy.
City Express recently sat down with Jason Jong, the City’s cultural and creative economy manager, to discuss the findings of the report and the future of inclusive economic development in Sacramento’s creative economy.
Q. Before we get into the details of the report, can you explain what the “creative economy” is and why it’s important for Sacramento’s future?
Jong: Sure. The creative economy encompasses industries and individuals involved in producing and distributing cultural goods and services, from visual arts to media production. It’s vital for Sacramento’s future because it not only enriches people’s lives but also supports the broader economy.
The U.S. creative economy in 2021 added $1.016 trillion to national GDP – more than construction and transportation respectively.
What is the goal of the report?
The report identifies potential pathways for the growth of for-profit creative businesses, with a specific focus on supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) people. It draws from extensive market analysis to align growth sectors with Sacramento’s unique assets and capital.
Who was involved in the process of creating this report?
We engaged with over 60 stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, community leaders, investors, and other creative economy stakeholders. Through panel discussions and one-on-one interviews, we gathered insights and perspectives crucial for understanding the landscape of Sacramento’s creative economy.
How does this report contribute to Sacramento’s economic development goals?
This report, which arose out of the recommendations of Creative Edge: Sacramento’s Arts, Culture & Creative Economy Plan, takes a deeper dive into Sacramento’s creative economy, elevates some of the true innovators within it, and lays out concrete recommendations for helping to capitalize on the opportunities in Sacramento.
How can supporting Sacramento’s creative economy support inclusive economic development?
Supporting the creative economy not only diversifies Sacramento’s economic base but also fosters equity. BIPOC populations have significant representation within the creative economy, making it a key asset in promoting inclusive growth.
In Sacramento, BIPOC populations have stronger diversity numbers than the national creative economy, with 52% of media production professionals identifying as BIPOC, 43% of design professionals, 60% of experience economy professionals, and 50% of civic life innovation professionals.
What does the report reveal about Sacramento’s creative economy?
Sacramento’s creative economy is made up of a variety of artists, designers, producers and entrepreneurs. The report identified growth sectors aligned with four creative entrepreneur profiles including:
- Polymathic media producers: Versatile problem solvers who blend different technologies to create diverse media experiences.
- Micro customizing designers: Creative individuals who offer personalized goods and services in the expanding field of design.
- Experience economy organizers: Entrepreneurs who develop and organize experiences, from art installations to music festivals.
- Civic life innovators: Professionals from various fields who innovate new approaches to shaping civic life.
Many of these entrepreneurs already exist in our economy, but they need to be supported to continue their growth and start ups must also be supported to break into the industry.
What are the growth opportunities for creatives?
The report outlines several strategies that can be implemented over the next six months, year, year and a half and long term. A summary includes:
- Creating alternative funding models to accelerate businesses and entrepreneurs
- Accelerating civic leader expertise in the creative economy and impact investment
- Establishing a regional creative economy working group to unify regional policies and strategies to pursue larger federal grants
- Subsidizing arts journalism
- Incentivizing property ownership for creatives
- Unlocking city institutions for creative innovation
- Celebrating and publicizing diverse creatives
What are the City’s next steps for supporting the growth opportunities outlined in the report?
The Office of Arts and Culture, along with our partners, has already initiated several efforts aligned with the report’s objectives. However, we are just beginning to delve into this work. Key projects include:
- The City’s American Rescue Plan funding framework for the Creative Economy includes resources to support creative businesses through training and education, investment and regulatory reform.
- The City’s Creative Corps Program, which collaborate closely with City department teams to engage in local outreach activities, addressing the diverse needs of our neighborhoods.
- A $250,000 allocation towards an arts journalism program, set to launch soon.
- The City’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development is driving support for startup businesses, many operating in the creative economy, through its $2 million innovation grant program.
While our office has supported and spearheaded a lot of this work, we simply cannot do it alone. We will need support from elected officials and regional nonprofit partners and we will need to seek out funding opportunities to support these efforts. We look forward to supporting this important work.
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For more information, you can read the full report here.
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