Creative arts sector is worth billions to Michigan economy, study finds

When ArtServe Michigan added the for-profit arts sector into its annual report on the creative economy,  it found the arts' economic impact picture got that much larger: among other findings, for-profit businesses contribute nearly three percent of both total state employment and total wage. Excerpt: "The big four counties — Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Washtenaw — together account for 70 percent of all wages paid by creative industries. And while many parts of the state economy took a hit in 2008, notably manufacturing, according to the report arts-related employment increased 15 percent from 2006 to 2011. The number of arts-related businesses grew by 65 percent over the same period." More here.