LEVERAGING

REGIONAL ASSETS
FOR A VIBRANT
FUTURE

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Dear Friends:
On behalf of the Regional Alliance for the Creative Economy, we are pleased to present this Executive
Summary of the Capital Region Creative Economy research study. The goal of this study was to identify and
quantify the Capital Regions creative assets, and develop specific recommendations on activities to leverage
those assets. At its core, this is, and will continue to be, a community engagement initiative guided
by research and best practices.
On behalf of the stakeholders, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and Center for
Economic Growth contracted with Mt. Auburn Associates, Inc. to review the Capital Regions creative economy
and assist in the development of a Strategic Action Plan. We are grateful to the corporations, foundations
and individuals who provided financial support for this ongoing project; to the more than 1,000 artists,
organizations, businesses, and public agencies that participated in the research and analysis phase of the
study; and to those key business, education, civic, philanthropic, and political leaders who helped shape
the strategic action plan.
The result of this year-long effort is an action agenda intended to provide a blueprint for the public,
private, and nonprofit sectors as well as for individual artists, creative freelancers, and residents as they
collectively seek to leverage the regions creative assets to stimulate economic growth.
Over the past year, the Regional Alliance for the Creative Economy has built a foundation for promoting
creative enterprises as economic drivers for the region.
A diverse group of stakeholders comprising more than 25 corporations, foundations, and
individuals
have pledged nearly $180,000 in support;

The initiative was ranked as a priority project by the Capital Region Economic Development
Council
and was awarded $65,000 from Empire State Development to support the initiative;
More than 1,000 individuals were engaged through extensive one-on-one interviews, focus
groups
in each of the eight counties, work groups, and two regional summits;

An online survey gathered information from 600 creative artists and creative freelancers,
who
are self-employed and earn part or all of their income through creative work.

So what did we learn and what will we do? We learned that the creative sector is a significant component
of the regional economy. We confirmed that we have outstanding assets on which to build. We also learned
that in order to grow this sector, we need to think regionally, promote transformation, encourage world
class enterprises, and foster collaboration over time.
We look forward to your continued participation in this effort to embrace, promote, and leverage creativity
as a core driver of our regional economy.

F. Michael Tucker
President and CEO
Center for Economic Growth

Karen Bilowith
President and CEO
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region

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When most people think about the eight-county Capital

Region of New York, which includes Albany, Columbia,
Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and
Washington counties, they rarely focus on its diverse and
world-class creative assetswhere cutting-edge technology
converges with design, arts, and culture.

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This is about to change.

Within a 60-mile radius, one can choose to attend a Broadway
performance of Jersey Boys in a magnificent historical theater venue,
a world-class dance performance by the New York City Ballet, a
cutting-edge performance art event in a renovated warehouse, a
fiber art tour at more than a dozen farms or an exhibition at
the historic homes of two of the most renowned painters of the
Hudson River School of Art.
The Capital Regions creativity also is evident throughout its business
communitywhere leaders of creative companies in architecture,
computer gaming, graphics, and media are finding the region is an
excellent location to build a thriving business.
There is an entrepreneurial energy in the region exemplified by the
Tech Valley Center of Gravity, a federation of makers, hackers, crafters,
and artists in Troy; the plan by the founder of Etsy to develop a new
artisan center in Catskill; and the effort by world-famous performance
artist Marina Abramovic to build a $15 million center in Hudson devoted
to the research and production of long duration performance art.

TheSE NEW AND INNOVATIVE

VENTURES BUILD ON
WHAT IS ALREADY HERE
Strong and growing creative businesses
World-class cultural institutions
A vibrant community of creative people
A significant number of
extremely high-quality venues
And now, a group of regional leaders
has come together to better understand the
creative economyits economic importance
and its strengths and challenges
and to develop a transformational plan
that brings the eight counties of the
region together to collectively leverage its
creative assets for the economic benefit of
the entire community.
The Capital Region is so rich in creative talent

The Egg at Empire Plaza, Albany County

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and enterprises that it is impossible in this

executive summary to reference all companies
and support organizations that play a role in
the creative industries. The references are not
intended to be all-inclusive, but are instead
meant to serve as examples of creative assets
within the region.

THE ECONOMICS OF CREATIVITY

There is increasing attention, nationally and internationally, on the economic importance of the creative economy. Findings
of two United Nations reports affirm that the creative economy is not only one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the
world economy, but also a highly transformative one, in terms of income-generation, job creation, and export earnings.
According to these studies, the global creative economy more than doubled between 2002 and 2011.
Four different aspects of the creative economy drive economic growth:
Creative Industries

The enterprises and people providing goods and

services with artistic or cultural value in the marketplace.

Creative Places

The confluence of creative industries and talent that

contribute to quality of life in a geographic location.

Jobs and income from

Creative Enterprises

Creative Talent

The individuals and occupations that produce creative content.

Wealth creation
in the region

Jobs and income from

other industries

Creative Convergence

Theinteractions
interactionsand
andsynergies
synergieswith
withother
other
The
sectors
sectorsof
ofthe
theCapital
CapitalRegion
Regioneconomy.
economy.

THE VISION
THE CAPITAL REGION IS RECOGNIZED
REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, AND
INTERNATIONALLY AS A HUB OF CREATIVITY.

LOWER INCOME AND MINORITY YOUTH ARE

INSPIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION
AND CONTINUE ON IN A CREATIVE FIELD.

MORE TOURISTS VISIT THE REGION

ATTRACTED BY THE CREATIVE PLACES
AND CULTURAL ASSETS.

NON-PROFIT CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS EXTEND

THEIR REACH THROUGH INCREASED
COLLABORATION, EFFICIENCIES, AND SCALE.

NEW RESIDENTS, DRAWN TO ITS

CREATIVE PLACES, MAKE THE
CAPITAL REGION THEIR HOME.

COMPANIES HAVE GREATER SUCCESS RECRUITING

AND RETAINING TALENT.
Salem Art Works, Washington County

CREATIVE FREELANCERS EARN

A BETTER LIVING.
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
HAVE GREATER SUCCESS RECRUITING
STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
NEW CREATIVE ENTERPRISES
ARE ESTABLISHED AND THRIVE,
CREATING THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS.

THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES ARE
GROUPED INTO FIVE SEGMENTS:

This report draws on a comprehensive review

of global practices used to define the Creative
Industries. The most accepted definitions
include businesses, organizations, and
individuals in fields traditionally defined as the
arts as well as enterprises involved in the
applications of art and design, and technical
and commercial activities such as broadcasting,
publishing, music recording, film and video
production, advertising, video games, graphic
design, architecture, and interior design.

DESIGN

graphic design services, architecture, landscape architecture, interior design,

industrial design services, printing, other specialized design

MEDIA

motion picture and video industries, sound recording, radio and television
broadcasting, internet publishing, newspapers, advertising, bookstores, books
and periodical publishers, public relations agencies, video game developers,
independent writers

VISUAL ARTS AND HANDCRAFTED PRODUCTS

photography, sculpting, painting, jewelry, pottery, textiles, pressed

and blown glass, art dealers, galleries, craft making, craft stores

DEFINITION OF
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

PERFORMING ARTS

The businesses, non-profit organizations, and self-employed individuals involved in the origination, production,
and distribution of goods and services
in which artistic and cultural content
gives the product or service value in
the marketplace.

performing arts companies, promoters of performing arts, music and dance

schools, musical instrument manufacturing and supplies stores, self-employed
actors, dancers, directors, musicians

HERITAGE AND PRESERVATION

museums, historical sites, libraries/archives, antiques, preservation

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
To assess the economic importance of the creative industries, it is essential to view it according to the same standards that are
typically used to analyze other industries. The following analysis does this by examining the number of jobs and earnings that are part
of the creative enterprises in all of the five segments.

The creative economy includes workers in creative industries and workers

in creative occupationstwo groups that overlap, but are not identical.
total creative employment (2013)

30,591 JOBS

9,247

14,689

6,655

other workers in
creative industries

creative workers in
creative industries

creative workers in
other industries

ad agency accountant
theater security guard

museum curator
orchestra musician

musician at church
designer at manufacturer

The jobs and earnings

data are sourced from
the fourth quarter
2013 dataset published by Economic
Modeling Specialists,
Inc. EMSIs dataset includes wage and salary employment as well
as self-employment.

23,936

creative industries segments

21,344

creative occupations

Jobs in creative industries account for the work individuals do. An individual may have one, two, or more jobs. Occupations account for the type of work an individual does.

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Employment in Creative Industries

One of the most important sectors of the Capital Regions economy

50,398

36,117

32,980

30,252
23,936

Number of jobs (2013)

24,393

Health
Care

16,036
12,189
7,834

Food Services
(incl. bars)

Manufacturing

Construction

Higher
Education

Creative
Industries

Insurance

Transportation

6,416

Amusement &
Accommodation
Recreation

The Capital Region has the second highest concentration

of creative jobs amongst metropolitan regions of similar size.

1. Sarasota/Bradenton/Punta Gorda, FL 2. Albany/Schenectady/Amsterdam, NY 3. Omaha, NE/Council Bluffs/Fremont, IA 4. Hartford/West Hartford, CT

5. New Orleans/Metairie/Bogalusa, LA 6. Dayton/Springfield/Greenville, OH 7. Rochester/Batavia/Seneca Falls, NY 8. Grand Rapids/Muskegon/Holland, MI
9. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY/Elizabethtown/Scottsburg, IN 10. Birmingham/Hoover/Cullman, AL 11. Knoxville/Sevierville/La Follette, TN 12. Syracuse/Auburn, NY
13. Buffalo/Niagara/Cattaraugus, NY 14. Tulsa/Bartlesville, OK 15. Baton Rouge/Pierre Part, LA 16. Oklahoma City/Shawnee, OK 17. Columbia/Newberry, SC
18. Little Rock/North Little Rock/Pine Bluff, AR 19. Greenville/Spartanburg/Anderson, SC 20. Fresno/Madera, CA

The Media and Design segments account

for the highest number of jobs.

DESIGN

5,047 Jobs
21%

VISUAL ARTS AND

HANDCRAFTED
PRODUCTS
2,342 Jobs

10%

23,936
JOBS

800+

20%

PERFORMING
ARTS
4,700 Jobs

41%

MILLION DOLLARS
IN EARNINGS

MEDIA

9,965 Jobs

8%

HERITAGE AND
PRESERVATION
1,883 Jobs

ALBANY

Only two U.S. counties

Kings County, NY (Brooklyn)
& Taos County, NMhave
a higher concentration
of independent artists
than Columbia County.

8,630

Jobs in Creative Industries

WASHINGTON
693

Jobs in Creative Industries

3.19%

Share of Area Employment

0.88

Location Quotient

COLUMBIA
2,164

Jobs in Creative Industries

3.15%

6.52%

Share of Area Employment

Share of Area Employment

Location Quotient

Location Quotient

0.87

WARREN
1,853

Jobs in Creative Industries

3.84%

Share of Area Employment

1.06

Location Quotient

1.81

Capital Region

23,936 Jobs in Creative Industries

3.65% Share of Area Employment
1.01 Location Quotient

GREENE
768

Jobs in Creative Industries

3.82%

Share of Area Employment

1.06

Location Quotient

SCHENECTADY

RENSSELAER

Jobs in Creative Industries

Jobs in Creative Industries

1,911

2.52%

Share of Area Employment

0.70

Location Quotient

2,710

SARATOGA
5,206

Jobs in Creative Industries

3.82%

Share of Area Employment

1.06

Location Quotient

4.54%

Share of Area Employment

1.26

Location Quotient

Location Quotient (LQ) is a ratio comparing the concentration of creative sector employment locally to the national concentration of creative sector
employment. Location quotients greater than 1.00 indicate a higher concentration of employment in the local industry as compared to the nation.

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CREATIVE TALENT
The growth of the Capital Regions creative industries
rests first and foremost on its ability to attract, develop,
and retain talented, creative, and entrepreneurial
workers. Beyond the creative industries, companies
throughout the Capital Region depend on imaginative
and innovative applicants who have a wide range of
skills, can quickly adapt to change, envision new
products and processes, and can develop new markets.
The formal arts education in the k-12 system, the many
private education and training programs, and
the regions higher education institutions are all
critical to creating the talent pipeline as they create
and nurture the next generation of talent and
foster a greater appreciation for the arts and creativity
among all students.
To fully understand the importance of creativity to the
Capital Regions economy, it is important to consider
the range of individuals working in creative occupations.
Of the 21,344 individuals who are in creative
occupations, the largest numbers are in the film and
media segmentapproximately 35%. There are large
numbers of writers and authors, multimedia artists,
and animators.
The relative concentration of creative occupations in
the Capital Region is higher than in the U.S. overall.
Approximately one-third of those reported as working
in creative occupations are primarily employed
in non-creative enterprises, such as musicians
working in religious organizations or graphic designers
working in financial service firms.

FINDINGS FROM A SURVEY OF 599 CREATIVE FREELANCERS

IN THE CAPITAL REGION
Respondents report the income generated from their creative
work is important to their standard of living:
29% report their creative work is essential to allowing household
to meet minimum household financial needs
21% report their creative work is essential to maintaining middleclass or better lifestyle
19% report their creative work results in income of $30k+
OPPORTUNITY:
39% of survey respondents in design and 17% of those in media
want to grow a creative business, adding employees over time.

There has
been a

approximately

13,000

creative freelancing
jobs exist in the
Capital Region

Self-employment
accounts for

19%

53.4%

increase in freelance
employment in
the Capital Region
since 2004

of employment
in the creative
industries

The 20 largest creative occupations in the Capital Region (2013 Est.):

CRAFT
ARTISTS

383 JOBS

LIBRARIANS

PUBLIC RELATIONS
SPECIALISTS

1,463 JOBS

ARCHITECTS

774 JOBS

(excepting Landscape
& Naval)

704 JOBS

WRITERS
& AUTHORS

INTERIOR
DESIGNERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

1,680 JOBS

1,812 JOBS

469 JOBS
PUBLIC K-12 TEACHERS:
ART, MUSIC,
DRAMA & DANCE

HIGHER ED TEACHERS:
ART, MUSIC,
DRAMA & DANCE

EDITORS

926 JOBS

560 JOBS

HIGHER ED TEACHERS:

967 JOBS

MUSIC DIRECTORS
& COMPOSERS

473 JOBS

FINE ARTISTS

363 JOBS

MULTIMEDIA ARTISTS
& ANIMATORS

733 JOBS

MUSICIANS
& SINGERS

1,971 JOBS

WEB
DEVELOPERS

763 JOBS

GRAPHIC
DESIGNERS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE
& LITERATURE

1,363 JOBS

PRODUCERS
& DIRECTORS

409 JOBS

540 JOBS

FLORAL
DESIGNERS

366 JOBS

ART
DIRECTORS

631 JOBS

CREATIVE SEGMENTS
DESIGN

5,047
Total Jobs
(2013)

0.98
Location
Quotient

$49,130
Average Annual
Earnings

43.3%

Self-Employment
Share as % of all jobs

Firms and freelancers working in environmental, product, and communications design make up the design segment of the Capital Regions
creative economy. These enterprises and workers translate creative ideas into blueprints for useful economic goodseverything from cars
to toothbrushes to buildings and interiors to websites and newsletters. Occupations range from architects to industrial designers to
printers to graphic designers. The design segment in the region has much to celebrate from its prowess in commercial lithographic printing
to Hudsons emergence as an interior design hub to communication firms reinventing themselves.

COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN

Communications design includes all forms of design

intended to influence others through the creative
formsgraphic, web and interactive design,
marketing, printing, and commercial photography.
Industries within this segment have grown in recent years. As of
2013, the number of people employed in graphic design services
increased 26% from 2004.
Commercial printing is a significant contributor to communications
design, representing an industry that combines print media and
visual communication under the umbrella of graphic
communications. Boundaries increasingly blur as firms incorporate
services in graphic, web, and interactive design, and branding and
marketing. There is a growing concentration of small creative
design and branding shops in the Capital Regions urban centers.
The strong higher education network facilitates new generations
of talent for the communications design industriesfrom
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and The Sage Colleges to
the College of St. Roses highly regarded graphic design program
to SUNY Adirondacks signature new media degree.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

Architecture, landscape architecture, and

interior design make up environmental design.
The Capital Region claims both prominent
architecture firms and training programs. RPI
offers undergraduate, masters, and doctorate degrees in
architecture as well as one of the countrys only masters
degrees in lighting, and a unique Lighting Research Center
that engages in design-centered work. Interior design in the
Capital Region is on the rise with related jobs increasing by
24% since 2004. Hudsons growing reputation as a hub for
interior design has had spillover benefits for interior design
service companies.

PRODUCT & SERVICE DESIGN

The companies and freelancers that design

manufactured and crafted products form this
component of the Capital Regions design segment.
Although only a modest employment contributor,
the innovations made by product designers play an integral role
in overall economic competitiveness. There are a surprising
number of textile producers and enough fashion designers to
constitute a recent showcaseSaratogas Electric City Couture
Fashion show. Both traditional and modern furniture design have
a strong foothold in the Capital Region. Beyond the innovation
involved in the design of the products themselves, enterprises
are also experimenting with new models to get product designs
to market and launch companies. Quirky.com crowd-sources
product design ideas and brings them to market. At RPI, art, design,
and engineering converge. Its dual major program in Product
Design and Innovation is an incredible asset for the Capital Regions
product design field.

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Aquatic Development Group, Albany County

MEDIA

9,965
Total Jobs
(2013)

0.97
Location
Quotient

$44,954
Average Annual
Earnings

42.2%

Self-Employment
Share as % of all jobs

A host of freelance talent and enterprises in 32 different industries make up the media segment. Filmmakers, writers, and video game developers
generate content. Diversity and efforts at resiliency are the overarching stories of the regions media portfolio. Throughout the eight counties, one
finds prizewinning authors, newspaper publishers, TV stations, visiting film production companies, a video game development hub, and more.

LITERARY ARTS

Authors, residency programs, support organizations,

and bookstores collectively make up the literary arts
niche of the media segment. The Capital Regions
natural beauty and strong educational offerings attract
talented writers such as the two Pulitzer prize-winning fiction
authorsWilliam Kennedy and Steven Milhauser. Many more artists
attend prestigious residency programs in beautiful settings, such as
historic Yaddo, or receive training through degree programs. In
addition, the New York State Writers Institute hosts 65-70 events
during the academic year, and in partnership with Skidmore offers
the New York State Summer Writers Institute. Other support
organizations, such as Albany Poets, have nurtured the Capital
Regions small, but strong, spoken word scene. The regions
independent bookstores and libraries connect audiences to literary
works, serve as a venue for readings, and cross-promote other literary
events. Finally, the region has a handful of literary magazines.

TELEVISION & RADIO

The Capital Regions commercial and public television

and radio stations are significant contributors to the
media segment. Both television and radio are more
concentrated in the Capital Region than in the nation
overall. The Capital Region was an early mover in radio and television
broadcasting. WRGB, currently a CBS affiliate, became one of
the first broadcast television stations in 1928, while WGY, a radio
station, came on the air in 1922. Public broadcasting plays an
important cultural role in the region, with WMHT serving an audience
of about 1 million throughout the greater region, through both its
public radio and television station. In addition, WAMC/Northeast
Public Radio is a regional public radio network that serves parts of
seven northeastern states and operates a performing arts center in
downtown Albany. The Sanctuary for Independent Media and the
College of St. Roses William Randolph Hearst Center for
Communications & Interactive Media provide young adults and
independent artists training in media production.

VIDEO GAMING

The Capital Region is home to an authentic video

game industry cluster. Thanks largely to RPIs
innovative academic training offerings and business
incubation, a healthy cohort of gaming companies
has emerged. Vicarious Visions, the largest, now employs over 150
people at its Menands headquarters.

NEWSPAPERS & PUBLISHERS

The firms that publish newspapers, books, and other

periodicals, as well as companies involved in Internet
publishing, form the newspaper and publishing niche.
Despite vulnerabilities, the newspaper publishing
industry is one of the largest contributors, in terms of employment,
to the Capital Regions creative economy. In addition to several larger
publications, there are a number of boutique book and periodical
publishers specializing in niche markets and industry-specific content,
including Fence Books, Adenine Press, Mount Ida Press, Hudson
Whitman, Ernst Publishing, SUNY Press, and Slocum Publishing
providing hundreds of jobs.

FILM

Firms and freelancers involved in the production

and distribution of films and video fall into this
category. Although employment contributions are
modest, focus group members and interviewees
identified opportunities in this industry. A trio of major motion
picturesSalt, The Other Guys, and The Place Beyond the Pinesshot
in recent years raised expectations that film could benefit the regional
economy. Today, the Capital Regions film strengths lie in film
presentation. A range of venues screen foreign and independent
films and film festivals, from Capital Cinema Cultural Exchanges
four-day multi-cultural film forum to Ballston Spas annual film festival
and to screenings in Saratoga at the Saratoga Film Forum and
Criterion to weekly film screenings and the annual film festival at
the Basilica in Hudson. Upstate Independents links film and media
artists, while other arts organizations, such as YouthFX, Revolution
Studios, and the Digital Film Farm Workshop, offer film production
training opportunities for youth and adults.

PUBLIC RELATIONS &

ADVERTISING

The Capital Region has a large concentration of

firms and freelancers working in public relations
and advertising. These enterprises have considerable
overlap with the design creative economy segment as PR firms also
offer web and graphic design, or marketing and brand strategizing.
Advertising firms cluster in the urban centers with several firms
moving into new downtown locations within the last few years.

VISUAL ARTS AND

HANDCRAFTED
PRODUCTS

2,342
Total Jobs
(2013)

1.00
Location
Quotient

$19,064
Average Annual
Earnings

76.3%

Self-Employment
Share as % of all jobs

The visual arts and handcrafted products segment of the Capital Regions creative economy includes fine arts and crafts. Artists create paintings,
sculptures, photographs, prints, and illustrations. Artisans fabricate ceramics, glass, woodwork, fiber, jewelry, and metal work. Beyond
producers, the segment includes the galleries that exhibit and sell these wares and the companies that supply materials.

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS

The Capital Regions mountainous terrain and

topography have inspired visual artists for centuries.
In the mid-1800s, Thomas Cole, Frederick Church,
Sanford Gifford, and others drew from the
landscapes beauty to form the Hudson River School, Americas
first distinctive school of art. Today, the regions artists include
highly acclaimed artists who exhibit at major museums and are
represented by major national galleries and young, emerging
artists increasingly attracted to the regions creative centers. In
addition to the independent craftspeople and makers, some
artisans function as small-scale manufacturers, employing others
to create and fabricate their visions. Ulla Darni employs about 30
people in her Catskill Mountain studio to fabricate colorful reversepainting glass lamps.
Artists and artisans create their work in a variety of locations,
many of which take advantage of the growing number of artists
live/work and studio spaces throughout the region. The Shirt
Factory in Glens Falls houses more than 80 visual and craft artist
studios. There are additional smaller shared work spaces
throughout the region. Long wait lists for The Shirt Factory and
the Albany Barn suggest an opportunity for additional spaces.

GALLERIES & ARTISAN MARKETS

Communities in the Capital Region host a number

of galleries and artisan markets. Some places have
developed hub reputations, and others offer
more modest options for visual and craft artists
to display and sell their work. Hudson hosts nearly 40 art galleries
with over 30 lining downtowns Warren Street. Catskill also has a
number of galleries. Saratoga Springs galleries are clustered in
downtown on Broadway and in the arts district on Beekman Street.
Albany and Troy offer a more modest array of exhibition spaces,
with galleries operated by universities, non-profits, and social
enterprises augmenting commercial spaces. Through its robust
art and culture program, the Albany International Airport has
emerged as a major player in the regional exhibition scene.
The College of St. Rose, Sage College, Union College, SUNY Albany,
Siena College, and RPI each provide gallery exhibition space. Small
galleries at non-profits, such as the Albany Center Gallery, Collar
Works, and Spring Street Gallery, and social enterprises, such
as the Foundry for Art Design + Culture and PhotoCenter of the
Capital District, showcase and sell artists work.
The regions more rural areas host a number of galleries and
artisan markets. For instance, in Greene County, the Catskill
Mountain Foundations Kaaterskill Fine Arts Gallery showcases
fine arts and crafts, and Brik Gallery exhibits abstract and traditional
contemporary art. In Washington County, two major artisan
markets sell crafts produced by locals working in all disciplines:
the Valley Artisan Market and Gardenworks Farm. In addition to
brick and mortar galleries, First Fridays, open studios, and festivals
connect patrons with art and craft products. Volunteer-based
organizations spearhead many of these efforts.

THE ALBANY BARN

The Albany Barn, a converted abandoned school
building, is now a unique resource for low-income
artists and the larger community. Within the building
one finds 22 live/work apartments, a large multitenant incubator space, and other shared resources
such as a recording studio, multi-media computer
lab, and performing space. To gain entry, resident
incomes cannot exceed 50% of area median
income and all vowed to give back to the Albany
community. Artists pay no more than 30% of
their income up to a rate of approximately $600
per month. The wait list exceeds 70.

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PERFORMING ARTS

4,700
Total Jobs
(2013)

1.13
Location
Quotient

$16,633
Average Annual
Earnings

78.3%

Self-Employment
Share as % of all jobs

Companies and organizations that create or present music, theater, and dance make up most of the performing arts segment. Freelance
actors, dancers, musicians, comedians, as well as theater, lighting, and AV equipment supply shops join them. The Capital Regions performing
arts portfolio spans an Indie music duo that rehearses synth pop music in a barn to major performing arts centers that host everything
from the New York City Ballet to Phish.

MUSIC

A wide range of players contribute to the

music component of the Capital Regions
creative economy, including creators, performers
(composers, musicians, bands, and symphonies),
festivals, and a smattering of other entities, including makers of
musical instruments, recording studios, and organizations and
institutions dedicated to offering educational opportunities. These
people, organizations, and the public interrelate and establish
distinct scenes in different genres. Jazz has flourished in the
region thanks to festivals, events, and support organizations
dedicated to the form. The Capital Region hosts symphonies,
youth orchestras, choral groups, and an opera company. Among
them are world-class performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra
and Emmy Award-winning Albany Symphony Orchestra. In the
contemporary scene, there are a number of local bands creating
buzz beyond the region.

THEATER

Actors, directors, theater companies, venues, and

festivals all make up the theater component of
performing arts. The Capital Region supports
diverse genres, from the avant-garde to childrens
theater to Broadway musical productions and Shakespeare.
Summer is theater high season in the Capital Region. Companies
like Park Playhouse, Fort Salem Theatre and Mac-Haydn Theatre,
the Adirondack Theatre Festival, and Lake George Theatre Lab
attract professional actors from outside the region. The Exchanges
Orchard Project provides a summer theatre and performance
accelerator, hosted by the Catskill Mountain Foundation. The
Capital Region also supports a small number of professional
theater companies that produce their own seasons throughout
the year. Many small producing companies, some of which present
in unusual settings, produce cutting-edge work.
Theater venues stand to gain from recently authorized tax credit
legislation. The Upstate New York Musical and Theatrical Production
Tax Credit will reimburse up to 25% of production costs for touring
theatrical and musical productions that rehearse their shows or
do technology work at the theaters.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga County

DANCE

Freelance dancers and choreographers, dance

companies, and schools of dance instruction
constitute the dance component of the performing
arts segment. Although home to relatively few
professional dance companies, the Capital Region commands
national standing within the discipline due to SPAC and the National
Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame. The superb 2014 dance season
at SPAC included New York City Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, MOMIX, and
Martha Graham Dance Company; modern dance made possible
because of SPACs partnership with Skidmore Colleges modern
dance residency program. Albany claims the Albany Berkshire
Ballet and the modern groups Nacre, eba, and the Ellen Sinopoli
Dance Company. Dance companies, studios, art centers, and
universities offer instruction in a wide range of dance forms.

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PERFORMANCE ART

The Capital Region has a notable strength in longduration performance art. The proposed Marina
Abramovic Institute has the potential to bring a
truly unique experience to upstate New York. The
33,000-square-foot facility in downtown Hudson will feature a
space for visitors to practice the methods of Abramovic, one of
the most renowned performance artists in the world. EMPAC also
supports long-duration performance art.
EMPAC at RPI, Rensselaer County

Photo: Matt Wade, Creative Commons

The region provides opportunities for community members to

learn and participate in various musical genres. Musicians can
receive immersive training. Community choruses for all ages offer
opportunities to engage in the joy of musical expression.
Additionally, there are contributors to musical supply and
production chains. Recording studios, scattered in rural and urban
areas, offer musicians significantly more affordable rates than
those found in New York City.

HERITAGE AND
PRESERVATION

1,883
Total Jobs
(2013)

1.08
Location
Quotient

$19,115
Average Annual
Earnings

48.3%

Self-Employment
Share as % of all jobs

Museums, historical sites, heritage societies, libraries, archives, and other institutions and organizations that preserve or exhibit cultural
or natural heritage make up the heritage and preservation segment of the Capital Regions creative economy. These institutions generate
a sizable cultural impact, with contributions to tourism, education, and public access to artistic, cultural, and historic resources.

ARTS & CULTURAL MUSEUMS

Photo: Robert Gray, Creative Commons

The Capital Region is home to over 60 arts and

cultural museums including art, childrens, science,
topical, and museums that celebrate the regions
industrial roots. Collectively, these museums
attract more than one million annual visitors. The region hosts
enviable collections at institutions such as the New York State
Museum, the Albany Institute of History and Art, and the Hyde
Collection. University museums and galleries, such as Skidmores
Tang Museum, Union College Art Museum, and SUNYs University
Art Museum, serve as educational centers and showcase
contemporary visual arts. Youth have access to four different
childrens museums. Other institutions, such as the National
Bottle Museum and the Slate Valley Museum, interpret the regions
industrial history. Topical museums reach another level at
Saratoga Springs two national museums and halls of fame,
the National Museum of Racing and the National Museum
of Dance and Hall of Fame.

HERITAGE & PRESERVATION

Historical societies, cultural centers, festivals,

and antique shops help preserve and share
the Capital Regions diverse heritage. Many
organizations, such as the African American
Cultural Center, work to preserve specific ethnic, racial, or
religious cultural heritages, often powered by volunteers.
Festivals celebrate the Capital Regions cultural heritageboth
its historic roots and todays diversity. The Tulip Festival and
Pinksterfest celebrate the African American/Dutch tradition, while
LatinFest and Guyanese Family Fun Day represent festivals that
showcase the regions ever-evolving cultural heritage.
A cadre of private, public, and non-profit organizations provides
critical services related to preservation. Hudsons status as a hub
for antiques put it back on the map with it now housing over 60
antique dealers and related businesses. The Capital Region also
has a relatively large number of architectural and preservationrelated businesses that cater specifically to architectural historic
preservation. In the public sector, New York States Bureau of
Historic Sites on Peebles Island offers technical assistance and
preservation services to all of New Yorks state-owned parks
and historic sites.

Olana State Historic Site, Columbia County

The Hyde Collection, Warren County

HISTORIC SITES & MUSEUMS

A vast array of historic sites, buildings, and

landmarks preserves and shares the Capital
Regions history. The area has notable architectural
jewels such as Schenectadys Stockade Historic
District, with the highest concentrations of historic homes in the
country, as well as the Hart-Cluett House, a 19th century townhouse
recognized for its sophisticated architecture. Two large historic
sitesthe Lakes to Locks Passage and the Olana State Historic
Sitedeserve particular attention because their success at regional
collaborations holds promise for other Capital Region contributors.

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LIBRARIES

Most of the libraries in the Capital Region, more

than 80 public, are part of local and county
governments. Though the majority of these
libraries operate on limited budgets, they offer
a remarkable roster of resources and programs to their
community members. Specialty offerings include access to
genealogical materials, local cemetery and marriage records,
and aviation materials. Some smaller, local libraries have managed
to develop important cultural programs. For instance, the
Troy Public Library presents story-telling groups, music-making
classes, and computer workshops, while the Hudson Area Library
collaborates with the Columbia County Photo Club on a library
photo exhibit where artists also sell their photos.

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CREATIVE CONVERGENCE
Creative talent and creative businesses intersect with other sectors of the Capital Region Economy. Individuals with creative talent
contribute to companies across industry sectors; creative enterprises and assets are key drivers to a vibrant and thriving economy. In the
Capital Region, these four sectors converge with the creative economy in a significant way:

TECHNOLOGY
Art and technology are in many ways
interdependent. Artists design the creative content
of video games, smart phone apps, websites,
and many software interfaces. The quality of
the arts and cultural environment is important to technology
companies trying to attract talent. The Capital Region is fast
becoming a hub for experimental artwhere creativity and
technology come together.

CULINARY ARTS
The intersections between the regions agriculture,
artisanal food products, microbreweries, and
restaurants are significant and deep. From the
quarterly publications to the plethora of microbreweries and local distilleries, the growth of the culinary arts
and creative industries is closely linked.

MANUFACTURING
One result of growing global competition is that
authenticity and quality design are becoming
a more important competitive factor for regional
manufacturers. So while mass-produced products
may face serious international competition, manufacturers
of artisan products in the furniture, textile, and jewelry
industries are able to succeed through craft production
and design excellence.

TOURISM
The connections between the regions arts and
cultural assets and its tourism industry are widely
recognized. The regions venues, museums, and
historic sites attract many visitors from outside
of the region. Year-round festivals and events revolving around
music, visual arts and crafts, and literary arts have a major impact
on the tourism industry.

Cream of Wheat Laser Light Show at Hunter Mountain, Greene County

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ADVANCING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY:

A CALL TO ACTION
STRENGTHS TO BUILD ON
ENTREPRENEURIAL ENERGY
AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

WORLD-CLASS ARTS AND CULTURAL

RESIDENCY PROGRAMS

The Capital Region has a strong, geographically balanced set

of business support services, including entrepreneurial
training, one-on-one technical assistance, shared workspaces,
and events such as Startup Weekend, encouraging entrepreneurial
activity in the region. The regions higher education institutions
strongly support and encourage student entrepreneurship.
The resultrobust entrepreneurial activity throughout the region
with room for growth.

The Capital Region is a region of creative learning and reflection.

Three arts residencies programs in the regionYaddo, the Millay
Colony, and Art Omireceive international recognition. Add
to these EMPAC, the New York State Writers Institute, almost a
dozen additional residency programs, and summer institutes such
as the Skidmore Jazz Institute, New York State School of Orchestral
Studies, Saratoga International Theater Institute, and the Skidmore
Summer Dance Workshop. These programs draw international
talent to the region and mark the region as a center of creativity.

PRESENTING CAPACITY AND

STATE-OF-THE-ART VENUES
In any given week, state-owned, commercial, non-profit, and
university-owned venues throughout the Capital Region present
a significant number of arts and cultural events. Some of these
venues, such as EMPAC, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and
the Arthur Zankel Music Center, are widely acknowledged in the
music industry for acoustical excellence. Other notable venues,
including the Times Union Center, Proctors, the Capital
Repertory Theatre, the Egg, and the Palace Theatre, draw large
crowds from in and outside the region. Smaller commercial
venues, such as Helsinki Hudson, the Basilica, and Caff Lena,
further contribute to the cultural environment.

COMPANIES AT THE INTERSECTION OF

CREATIVITY AND TECHNOLOGY
The Capital Region has a number of companies that work at the
intersection of creative content and technology. The region has
two significant computer gaming companies as well as a number
of smaller start-ups; marketing and design companies that work
globally; and companies, such as Adirondack Studios and Tribune
Media Services, that serve the national entertainment industry
and employ hundreds of residents.

In a 1968 tribute to the executive director of Yaddo,

John Cheever noted that the forty or so acres on
which the principal buildings of Yaddo stand have
seen more distinguished activity in the arts than
any other piece of ground in the English-speaking
community and perhaps the world.

HIGH-QUALITY NATURAL
AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
Urban centers in the Capital Region are in the process of
revitalization and are developing amenities that are of interest to
young, mobile artists and professionals. Troy is referred to as
the new Brooklyn; The New York Times recently highlighted
Hudsons restaurants, amenities, and events; and a number of
new restaurants have recently located to downtown Schenectady.
The diversity of the creative assets in each county creates a
distinct sense of place that contributes to a high quality of life for
residents. Perhaps what makes the Capital Region unique is the
outstanding natural environment that surrounds these urban
centers; lakes, rivers, mountains, and the types of landscapes that
inspired the Hudson School of Painting.

NEW COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS

There is increased collaborative energy among non-profit
organizations in the region. Some of this is place-based, with four
arts organizations in Greene County forming Mainly Greene;
multiple organizations forming the Troy Cultural Alliance; and the
Glens Falls Collaborative focusing on downtown. Others are new
collaborations across cultural institutions; Cap Rep collaborates
with Proctors, while Park Playhouse, The Palace Theater, and Albany
Symphony Orchestra share resources. Additional collaborations
exist between higher education institutions with Accelerate518
promoting student entrepreneurship amongst Siena College, RPI,
Russell Sage College, and Union Graduate School.

EXPERIMENTAL AND ELECTRONIC ARTS

The Capital Region has a niche in cutting-edge performance art,
experimental installations, and media and digital art. EMPAC at
RPI brings international talent in the experimental arts to the
region for residencies and performances.

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Agora Games, Rensselaer County

rendering courtesy of id29

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LOCATION AT CENTER OF
NORTHEAST CREATIVE HUBS
The Capital Region has the advantage of being close to established
creative hubsthe Berkshires, Southern Vermont, and the Hudson
River Valley. The regions close proximity to New York City is also
a competitive strength as creatives and freelancers can live in
the region and freelance in New York City or, conversely, live in
New York City and perform or work in the region. Proximity
to Montreal and Boston is also an advantage, particularly for those
at the intersection of creativity and technology.

TARGETED TAX INCENTIVES

The region has a number of potential incentives that could be
leveraged to support creative individuals and enterprises.
These include: New York States 25% tax credit to producers who
tech their shows in New Yorks facilities, including in the Capital
Region and Start-Up NY, which provides tax incentives to new
or certain expanding businesses that are willing to partner with
universities in the state and locate near their campuses.

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

The Capital Region boasts four graduate and professional schools,
three research universities, five four-year schools, five two-year
community colleges, and two adult long-distance learning
programs. These institutions offer courses in all aspects of
creativity, including fine arts, music, music business, drama, graphic
design, architecture, communications, electronic media, games
and simulations arts, film, and broadcasting. Beyond producing
a pipeline of creative talent, the colleges and universities also
have impressive venues and summer programs in arts and culture.
The strong support these institutions have provided for student
entrepreneurs has led to dozens of creative alumni businesses
that have stayed in the region.
University at Albany, Albany County

CHALLENGES TO ADDRESS
REGIONAL FRAGMENTATION
The Capital Region is not a cohesive region with strong
networks and collaborations that cross the county borders or
even its rivers. The survey of creative freelancers found that
while residents might attend a creative offering or network
with colleagues in a neighboring county, few feel a cohesive part
of the eight-county region.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIVIDES
While the creative economy has led to many changes in the region,
perhaps best seen in the revitalization of some of the Capital
Regions urban centers, this energy is not reaching across socioeconomic boundaries. In many of the regions cities, one block
off the main streets there remain deep pockets of poverty.

GENERATION SILOS
In many ways, there are two creative economies in the Capital
Region, one that involves the millennials and one that involves
the rest of the community. There are different networks, ways of
working, and aspirations. A strong regional creative economy
would involve crossing some of these divides and engaging younger
residents in the leadership of the creative economy.

A LARGE NUMBER OF SMALL,

SOMEWHAT FRAGILE NON-PROFITS
The Capital Region benefits from its wealth of creative assets,
but a downside of this plethora of organizations is heightened
competition for both funding and markets, and many organizations
with limited scale and capacity. There are multiple symphonies,
numerous childrens museums, and a very large number
of organizations providing arts-related classes to young people.
Funders of the arts struggle to prioritize their support so that
the overall arts and cultural environment is sustainable.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Given the fragmentation of the services and the various
constituencies, many in the creative community remain
unaware of what is available and how to access it. For example,
many of the needs that freelancers identified in the survey
for this project are actually available in some capacity in
the Capital Region. The challenge is that there is no readily
accessible source of information on resources in the region.

LIMITED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE
For creative enterprises to thrive, they require access to basic
community infrastructure, most notably a public transportation
system that supports access to employment, and arts and cultural
events, and the broadband services needed to work successfully
from remote locations. In a large eight-county region with many
rural areas, both forms of infrastructure are critical constraints
to further growth in the creative economy.

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RECOMMENDATIONS
This report is a call to action to individual and organizational leaders and provides a shared opportunity to build a world-class
creative economy. The recommendations are a set of possibilities to support a portfolio of activities and fall within two areas:

CONSTRUCT AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

The support infrastructure needed to facilitate creative economic growth.

IMPLEMENT A PORTFOLIO OF ACTIVITIES

The set of potential actions that organizations and individuals can undertake
over the course of the next decade.
The recommendations on the subsequent pages follow six guiding principles that will
enable the Capital Region to build an internationally-recognized creative economy:

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Have a regional scope

Scale-up successful existing

support infrastructure

Incite true
transformation

Enhance collaboration
among public, private,
and non-profit actors

Support the emergence

of world-class talent,
enterprises, events
and facilities

Strengthen and expand

existing networks to
maximize cross-pollination
across disciplines, across
county lines, and across ages
and socio-economic divides

The following recommendations do not include recommendations to address county

or entity-specific stakeholder needs that surfaced during the course of this project.
Instead, the recommendations follow the principles outlined above in order to ensure
not only a regional impact, but also a transformational impact that will contribute to
a world-class creative economy.

WHO WILL
BENEFIT?
RESIDENTS

Growth of the creative industries and

the contributions creative talent and
creative companies make to other
industries will create new economic
opportunities for individuals in the
region. Additionally, support and
promotion of excellence in the creative
economy will create a substantially
enhanced quality of lifeproviding a
more vibrant and culturally rich place
to live and work.

CREATIVE BUSINESSES,
FREELANCERS &
NON-PROFITS

A thriving and vibrant creative economy

will spawn new markets, generate
new collaborative opportunities, and
contribute to innovative and supportive
infrastructures that support creative
endeavors.

ALL BUSINESSES

A strong cultural environment and new

image for the community will help
companies attract and retain talent
needed to be competitive. Additionally,
the infusion of creativity and innovation
into traditional business models
provides for economic competitiveness.

HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS

Proctors Theatre, Schenectady County

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Colleges and universities benefit when

students have access to more career
opportunities in the community, the
quality of life in the community is seen
as a positive for students, parents, and
faculty and their families, and the
broader community recognizes the
abundant, high-quality creative assets
embedded within higher educational
institutions.

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CONSTRUCT AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

1 BUILD A CROSS-SECTOR
COLLABORATIVE
For this report to go beyond a planning document and become
the first step in the implementation process, it is critical to have
collaborative commitment and participation from key crosssector leaders throughout the region. The collaborative would
include representatives from organizations throughout the
Capital Region with shared interests who are committed to
achieving the outcomes and who will take responsibility
for portions of the proposed portfolio. First steps include
identification of lead organizations and representatives, and
definition and adoption of a set of outcomes.
Rather than build a new, non-profit organization, the proposed
implementation structure involves a collaborative that will be led
by a director who is further supported by staff and resources from
two backbone organizationsthe Community Foundation for
the Greater Capital Region and the Center for Economic Growth.
These two organizations provided this support for the planning
phase, leading to the development of this report, and are well
positioned to continue this work going forward.

2 ESTABLISH THE FUND

FOR CREATIVE EXCELLENCE

There is a highly competitive funding environment in the Capital

Region, with large numbers of non-profit arts organizations
competing for limited funding. The objective of the Fund for
Creative Excellence is to pool philanthropic and corporate
resources, and define a set of outcomes funders are seeking to
achieve. Outcomes to be funded support efforts that exemplify
principles outlined in this report with regional impact: efforts
focused on building to excellence, initiatives that embrace new
and innovative collaborations, projects that bring to scale existing
capacity, and activities that represent new networking
opportunities across the creative economy.
In addition to regional philanthropic and corporate funders, the
Fund for Creative Excellence will seek other sources to grow capital.
For instance, fund management will engage private equity and
debt investors to create a pooled capital fund for real estate
and venture development in the creative economy, seek
national philanthropic funders to co-invest, and explore the
use of crowd-sourcing.

3 DESIGN A CREATIVE PORTAL

The creative community needs a virtual gathering placea place
where creative jobs, internships, and freelance opportunities
are posted; where one can find news of events related to the
creative economy and information on training; where resources
and networks are available for entrepreneurs and small
businesses; and where the capacity for the exchange of ideas
and opportunities exists.

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4 CATALYZE CREATIVE NETWORKS

This analysis found that many of those working within the creative
industries do not network in person across counties or across
disciplines. In-person networking promotes collaborations, a
sense of community, and new creative opportunities, while
reducing the sense of isolation that some artists feel, particularly
when living and working in rural communities. Formal and regular
networking events are an important element of building the
Capital Regions creative ecosystem.

5 COMMUNICATE THE CREATIVE

ECONOMY MESSAGE
Many residents, businesses, and policymakers in the region have
begun to shift their thinking about the Capital Region and recognize
the growing importance of technology-based companies. However,
few think of the region in terms of its creative strengths. This report
provides evidence about the economic importance of creative
industries and talent to the regions economic future. This message
needs to be disseminated more widely throughout the community.
Key leaders in the business, creative, and non-profit communities
will be designated as creative ambassadors with the primary
objective of making the case in their community about the importance
of the creative economy.

6 CREATE A REGIONAL CREATIVE BRAND

One of the most frequently heard messages in focus groups
and interviews was that the image of the Capital Region
continues to suffer from a legacy of outdated perceptions that
are difficult to change. The consensus is the current image
does not reflect the regions distinctive and authentic creative
assets and attributes. A regional, creative brand will provide
vision and a competitive edge necessary to attract visitors,
businesses, and talent.

IMPLEMENT A PORTFOLIO OF ACTIVITIES

CAPITALIZE ON THE CONVERGENCE OF
CREATIVITY, ARTS, AND TECHNOLOGY
Grow and attract new businesses in the digital media
and computer gaming industries
Develop a marketing campaign and target these industries
as part of the regional StartUP NY plan and other regional
economic development initiatives.

Scale-up Center of Gravity and Accelerate518

Develop strategies and resources to develop a network of
specialized Centers of Gravity in the region and engage
more actors and expand the scope of Accelerate518.

Create a region-wide event spotlighting experimental

collaboration in art, science, and emerging technologies
Establish a Task Force to develop a signature creative
event in the region focusing on the intersection of art,
science, and technology. Include visual, literary, and
media artists in this effort.

EXPAND CREATIVE MARKETS

Grow the business arts market
Increase the market for local creative products and provide
new places for exhibiting art by growing the number
of companies willing to exhibit or purchase work from
regional artists.

Improve access to business support services for

creative entrepreneurs and freelancers
Develop a one-stop virtual portal that has information
about all of the services available to entrepreneurs and
small businesses. Additionally, expose business service
providers to the creative industries to provide them a
better understanding of the unique needs.

Create customized training and degree programs that

are specific to the needs of freelancers
Develop and market programs designed to support skills
creative freelancers need. Incentives and subsidies will
encourage participation.

Encourage young people and college students to

attend arts events

Gardenworks, Washington County

Develop and distribute a regional Passport for the Arts

with discounts to cultural institutions and performances
for students in k-12 and higher education. Exposure to
arts in the community increases audience and builds
lifelong learnings.

Identify connections to the state-wide global

market initiative

TURN ON THE REGIONS TALENT PIPELINE

Assess opportunities for creative industries expansion

and export in the global marketplace.

Convene a Creative Higher Ed Working Group

Develop a collaborative, cross-institutional effort to identify
activities that will benefit the creative economy as well as
the educational institutions. For instance, develop a
catalogue of classes and programs relevant to the creative
economy and offer cross- enrollment agreements.

Host creative career events and internship programs

for high school and college students in the region
Expose students and parents to the broad range of
regional educational and career opportunities in the
creative industries.

Make the region a center of excellence in arts education

Build upon the Capital Regions leadership in STEM with
the addition of the arts and a focus on innovation.

SPREAD THE CAPITAL REGIONS

CREATIVE WEALTH
Cultivate creative ambassadors in
underrepresented communities
Identify and cultivate creative talent embedded in lowincome communities, and connect and facilitate needed
economic resources.

Develop creative middle-skill job training programs

Use the new tax incentives for theater to develop programs
that target middle-skill jobs for low and moderate
income residents. Middle-skill jobs require training
and certification and do not require a four-year degree.

Develop events that highlight the regions creative

assets targeted to those who come for summer
programs and residencies in the region

Create entrepreneurial and creative working spaces

in low-income communities

Cultivate a regional marketing program specifically

designed to target summer education and residency
participants.

Establish a specialized maker space as part of the

effort to scale-up the Center of Gravity in lower income
urban neighborhoods throughout the region.

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17

THIS REPORT WAS PREPARED BY

Beth Siegel, Judi Luciano, Alyssa Saunders
& Adam Kornetsky, Mt. Auburn Associates

WITH SUPPORT FROM

Michael Kane,
Michael Kane Consulting

Mary Ellen OLoughlin,

Regional Alliance for a Creative Economy

Anne Gadwa Nicodemus,

Metris Arts Consulting

THIS REPORT WAS DESIGNED BY

Trampoline Design

Peter Kwass,
Peter Kwass Consulting
Jillian Lanney, Adam Levin
& Kelly Yardley, Mt. Auburn Associates

Mt. Auburn Associates would like to thank the many stakeholders in the Capital Region who have contributed their time and energy to this
effort through their engagement in steering committee meetings, interviews, site tours, focus groups, surveys, and creative economy summits.