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Arts group releases plan that aims to boost creative economy
Published August 5, 2024
The Delaware Arts Alliance has released the Creative Economy Advancement and Tourism Expansion (CREATE) Plan.
The plan released at the end of July and is believed to be first of its kind in the nation aims to advance Delaware’s creative economy at the state, county and local levels of government while boosting cultural tourism.
The plan, which was developed over two years, was funded with a $1 million grant from Gov. John Carney and the Delaware Division of Small Business through the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) American Rescue Plan TravelTourism & Outdoor Recreation program. CREATE included input from more than 600 Delaware residents.
The plan was unveiled at events around the state and received input from more than 600 Delawareans.
The plan features an online interactive asset map displaying Delaware’s creative and tourism assets, along with a study on the impact on the state’s economy.
According to the study, the creative economy employs about 4% of the state’s workforce and has economic output of $3.7 billion.
The plan includes 25 recommendations that address tourism, funding, and other issues related to supporting Delaware’s creative economy. These recommendations included all three counties and six municipalities Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, Smyrna, Middletown and Milford).
Recommendations include an emphasis on tourism-related special events, especially in southern Delaware as well as a sustainable level of funding from sources that include businesses and government.
Delaware Arts Alliance Director, Neil Kirschling stated, “We believe this plan is a roadmap to ensure Delaware is seen as a cultural tourism destination, a home to artists of all walks of life, and home to a vibrant community of creative professionals. I invite elected officials, business and community leaders, philanthropists, artists, and the general public to engage with the data and mapping tool, and utilize the insights and recommendations provided in the plan to ensure sustained growth of Delaware’s creative economy.”
“The CREATE Plan’s online interactive asset map will be an incredibly useful resource for those of us in tourism, and also for other government agencies, researchers, and visitors to understand the breadth of Delaware’s creative economy and all that we have to offer as a state. It will also allow us to identify opportunities to further link the creative sector with the tourism industry” says Jessica Welch, Director, Delaware Tourism Office.
“We are extremely proud of the CREATE Plan and will work tirelessly to ensure that this report does not just sit idly online or on someone’s desk,” said board chair and Executive Director of the Delaware Art Museum, Molly Giordano. “We now have a roadmap to strengthen tourism and the creative economy in Delaware and invite everyone to use the CREATE Plan to spread awareness about the importance of Delaware’s creative economy.”
To view the full plan, executive summary as well as access downloadable materials click here.
Delaware Arts Alliance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.