Over the past two years, the Delaware Arts Alliance has developed the Creative Economy Advancement and Tourism Plan to boost the state’s creative economy and cultural tourism. This initiative is backed by a $1 million grant from the Economic Development Administration’s American Rescue Plan.

Delaware Arts Alliance director Neil Kirschling expressed enthusiasm about launching the extensive research, asset map, and action plan, viewing it as a blueprint to establish Delaware as a cultural tourism hotspot and a vibrant hub for artists and creative professionals.

Kirschling highlighted the pandemic’s severe impact on the arts sector, underscoring the necessity of a detailed plan at both state and county levels to address the challenges of securing funding and sustaining operations for artists and arts organizations.

“As we transition out of the pandemic, we are focusing on presenting the arts in economic terms to highlight its role in job creation,” he said. “The arts drive tourism, boost our economic output, and influence employment figures, making it essential to include them in our broader economic development strategies.”

Supporting Kirschling’s perspective on the arts sector’s impact, the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study from the Delaware Division of the Arts offers an in-depth analysis of the non-profit arts and culture sector. The AEP6 report reveals that for fiscal year 2022, the total industry expenditures were approximately $210 million, sustaining over 3,330 jobs.