ART SPARKS prosperity

Research shows that art-sparked communities thrive. In Lexington alone, a $32 million arts and cultural industry supports 1,185 full-time jobs and kicks $3.2 million in taxes into city and state coffers. Artists are now hailed as dynamic city builders because their work goes a long way towards shaping a city’s image, making it a magnet for tourists and stimulating the emergence of vibrant arts spaces and places, abuzz with creative energy.

What’s more, by contributing to the livability of cities, the arts help to attract business and investors. Studies show that residents who select a community for reasons linked to quality of life are more likely to be actively engaged and attached to the community over time. Good for them, good for everyone.