April 2025
- Imagine MKE
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
New Data: Growing Economic Impact of Arts & Culture
New data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released this week points to the growing economic impact of arts and culture. Nationwide, the arts and cultural sector grew at more than twice the rate of the total economy between 2022 and 2023. In Wisconsin, arts and cultural production accounted for $12.4 billion in value added to the state economy in 2023. That’s up from $11.9 billion the year before.
Additionally, more than 95,000 Wisconsin employees worked in the sector, up from 89,000 in 2022. Overall, the economic impact of Wisconsin’s art and culture production is greater than the Agriculture and Forestry, Utilities, Education Services, and Mining industries.
But it’s not all good news. While the latest data found many arts and cultural industries have regained pre-pandemic levels of economic value, some are still struggling. Which is why Imagine MKE and our partners Action! Wisconsin, Create Wisconsin, and many other advocates across the state are working hard to encourage our lawmakers to pass a biennial budget that increases funding for arts, culture and film production.
Shifting Perspectives
“The arts are more than an amenity.” When you invest in the arts, “You're not investing in a frill or an extra, you're investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates revenue, and is a tourism driver.”
An outstanding point from national arts and economics expert, Randy Cohen, VP of Americans for the Arts. Randy was the keynote speaker last week for Create Wisconsin Day held in Madison. Imagine MKE joined more than 150 attendees from across the state to celebrate and advocate for Wisconsin’s arts, culture, and creative sector.
Nonprofit leaders, filmmakers, artists, musicians, students, business leaders and more participated in about 40 visits with state legislators and staff members to encourage them to pass a final 2025-2027 state budget that:
Increases funding for Wisconsin’s arts and culture organizations.
Establishes a Wisconsin Office of Film and Creative Industries and offers production incentives.
Funds a new Wisconsin Rural Creative Economy grant program
Imagine MKE’s legislative meetings included visits with State Senator Julian Bradley and staff for State Representative Deb Andraca, State Representative Chuck Wichgers and State Representative Jessie Rodriguez. Joining us were filmmakers Joann Jardine and Jenny Bergstedt; staff from Marcus Performing Arts Center, Milwaukee Rep, First Stage and Art Start; as well as students from these organizations.
We had great conversations, but now your local lawmakers want to hear from you. Click here to easily generate and send emails to your legislators asking them to strengthen Wisconsin’s economic and social wellbeing by investing in arts and culture.
Meanwhile, Friday I’ll participate in one of four public hearings hosted by the Joint Committee on Finance regarding increased arts investment and inclusion of film incentives in state budget and Imagine MKE will also submit written testimony. We’ll keep you posted about continued efforts and progress.
A Bipartisan Priority
Following our day in Madison, Randy Cohen, American for the Arts’ VP of Research and Anne Katz, Create Wisconsin’s Executive Director, joined me as guests on 620WTMJ's The Upswing with Jeff Sherman. Listen to the 20-minute segment.
“This is not a partisan thing. Everyone is concerned with investing in our people and our communities,” Anne noted. “Everyone is concerned with keeping Wisconsin's people, organizations, businesses, and communities, healthy, vibrant, and making sure that people have opportunities.”
Randy added there is overwhelming public support for government funding for arts and culture. According to findings from the Americans for the Arts public opinion study, 66% approve state funding for arts and culture organizations and 70% approve local government funding.
We also sat down with WUWM FM’s Lake Effect public affairs program, Milwaukee Magazine, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. We’ll share links to ensuing media stories on our socials and in future newsletters.
Amplifying Arts + Culture Media Coverage
We’re excited to share we will be launching a new partnership with the TMJ4 news team to increase media coverage of greater Milwaukee’s arts, culture, and creative organizations, individuals, and offerings. From blockbuster exhibits, theatre shows, and live music performances to hidden gems and rising stars, we hope to generate a steady stream of news stories that promote our vast creative community to more audiences. TMJ4 News Director Tim Vetscher told us, “TMJ4 is committed to amplifying the voices in Milwaukee’s arts community.”
Coming soon, Imagine MKE partners and all Milwaukee arts and cultural organizations will be able to submit their story ideas through the Imagine MKE website directly to the TMJ4 news team.
We're looking forward to amplifying Milwaukee's creative community and sharing more stories that celebrate the incredible talent and cultural richness our city has to offer!
Christine Hojnacki
Executive Director, Imagine MKE
