The Creative Ecosystem in a Time of Crisis

THE MID-HUDSON VALLEY CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM 
IN A TIME OF CRISIS 

The impact of the financial crisis on the region’s 
arts community, and strategies to promote recovery 

By Harvey Seifter and Judy Levine 

This study describes  what’s happened to the arts in the mid-Hudson Valley of upstate New York since the economic crisis began, and offers recommendations which are applicable to other regions as well. 

“This report places the current crisis in context, with a look at how recessions have affected America’s arts ecosystems over the past several decades. Its fundamental purpose is to provide useful information and recommendations to the Mid-Hudson Valley’s arts organizations, community leaders and public officials; it is designed as a resource to guide their decision-making in ways that will help the region’s creative ecosystem continue to provide vital community benefits during these difficult times, and prepare to flourish in the recovery that will follow.”

Two overarching recommendations apply equally to funders, community leaders and arts organizations: 

 Develop a regional arts “anchor”: Neither the Dutchess County Arts Council (which provides the region’s arts communities with important resources and services), nor any other entity is presently structured or funded to serve as the regional anchor that the creative ecosystem urgently needs. Funders, community and arts leaders are strongly urged to come together to address this problem. 

Look beyond the crisis. The recession is provoking a re-examination of assumptions, values and policies by all elements of America’s cultural infrastructure, from the largest funders to the smallest arts organizations. In a time of transformational change, the skills and insights of artists will be hugely important to the region’s economy and its communities. Arts leaders, funders and community leaders should start planning now to leverage these opportunities. 

Tagged as: arts, arts organizations, CREATIVE ECONOMY, crisis, ecosystem, Harvey Seifter, leaders, recession