A look at America's leading arts hubs and their roles in economic development.
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QuoteRICHARD FLORIDA
The Art Basel Miami Beach art fair kicks off this week, an event that drew 75,000 people and 140 international museum and international groups in 2013. The art fair is widely credited with kick-starting the economic resurgence of the Miami area, so it seems like a good time to ask: What do we really know about the role of art in the city? Does it help to drive economic growth and development or does it contribute to gentrification? Are leading edge arts clusters found just in big cities, like New York and Los Angeles, or can they spread to smaller and medium sized ones as well?
Full article: http://www.citylab.com/work/2014/12/why-cities-cant-afford-to-lose-their-artists/383298/
I think the arts culture of a city is also a good indicator of the number of innovative young professionals who live there. Cities looking to grow, or who are looking toward a revitalization, should definitely consider stronger support for the arts. Jacksonville has a great community of artists and musicians, and with the right planning could become a real player on the national and international art scene.