The creative economy is the enterprises, organizations, and people involved in the production and distribution of artistic goods and services to the marketplace. This broad category includes major cultural institutions and performance venues, smaller independent art galleries and museums, and individual artists across a variety of disciplines such as fine arts, music, dance, theater, and specialized crafting.
Berkshire County was named the second most arts-vibrant medium-sized community in the nation by the National Center for Arts Research in 2018, proving that the region is nationally-recognized for its creative pursuits. In addition, larger cultural institutions have invested millions in the last few years, expanding their facilities and the quantity, quality, and variety of the work they showcase. Approximately half of the creative jobs in the county are self-employed individuals or sole proprietors.
The creative economy supports approximately 5,500 jobs or roughly 6.4% of all jobs in the county. Between 2010 and 2017, the creative sector saw a 9.5% increase in jobs. This cluster directly contributes approximately $398,000,000 to The Berkshires’ gross regional product annually. Additionally, the creative economy has a profound impact on the Hospitality and Tourism cluster, drawing visitors to the region for performances, art exhibitions, and hand-crafted goods of all types.