As a part of the Creative Economy program vertical, the Cultural Office uses research conducted locally, nationally, and globally in an effort to link our creative sector to larger regional initiatives and resources in small business/startup support, economic development, talent attraction & retention, and more. With this research, we strive to build a stronger creative economy that empowers artists, creative businesses, cultural nonprofits, and the entire community.
Colorado’s Creative Economy in Context
Colorado’s creative economy is a major contributor to the state’s prosperity and quality of life. Arts and cultural production generates approximately $19.7 billion in economic activity statewide, supporting more than 121,000 jobs and over $10.5 billion in compensation. Colorado consistently ranks among the most artistically active states in the nation, with residents participating in arts creation, attendance, and cultural engagement at rates above the national average.
Creative activity is closely connected to other key sectors of Colorado’s economy. Tourism alone welcomed 95.4 million visitors statewide in 2024, generating $28.5 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 457,000 jobs. Cultural experiences, public art, festivals, performances, and creative districts all contribute to the identity of Colorado communities and play a meaningful role in the visitor economy.
Understanding this broader statewide context helps inform the Cultural Office’s research efforts and strengthens how the Pikes Peak region’s creative sector connects with economic development, small business growth, talent attraction, and community vitality.
Current Research
- Conduits and Catalysts: Exploratory findings from a national study of Local Arts Agencies: The National Endowment for the Arts completed Phase I of its national study on Local Arts Agencies in 2023–2024, producing an interim report, research plan, survey instrument, and a national list of NEA-funded LAAs.
- Arts and Economic Prosperity 6: The most recent Arts & Economic Prosperity study (AEP6) provides evidence that the nonprofit arts & culture sector is a significant industry in the Pikes Peak region—one that generates $184.6 million in annual economic activity.
- Creative Vitality™ Suite is the industry standard data solution for measuring the for-profit and nonprofit arts, culture, and creative sectors. Here are the recent snapshots for the Colorado Springs MSA (which includes all of El Paso & Teller Counties):
- SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, presents the 2023 Arts Vibrancy Index which recognizes and celebrates the most arts-vibrant communities across the United States. When assessing a community’s vibrancy, they take a data-driven approach drawing on 13 unique measures which cover aspects of supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture, and are adjusted for cost of living and population.
- The Policy Circle: The Creative Economy Brief is an excellent starting point for your macro-questions about the global creative economy.
Have research ideas or questions about collaborating with our team? Email Luke@CulturalOffice.org
We are the Creative Economy
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