A Native musician walking down a path in the mountains holding an acoustic guitar.

Establishing a Creative Economy:

ART AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES

This report unveils previously overlooked facts, insights, and possibilities about Native arts and culture, making a compelling case for Native arts as a potent and readily available economic force within Indian Country.

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Establishing a creative economy

about the report

The market study Establishing a Creative Economy: Art as an Economic Engine in Native Communities reveals facts, insights and possibilities that have been overlooked and untapped for far too long. Based on market research conducted in Washington, Oregon, Montana and South Dakota, this report makes the case of Native arts as a strong and available economic force in Indian Country.

The creative production of art and artistic expression are, today, among the most promising ways to expand the market economy in rural and urban Native communities.

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In 2011, First Peoples Fund and Artspace partnered with the Northwest Area Foundation, Colorado State University and Leveraging Investments in Creativity on the American Indian Creative Economy Market Study Project. This survey examined household economics, infrastructure needs and social networks of Native artists to help:

  • Define the role of Native artists within reservation economies.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of support programs currently available for Native artists.
  • Identify challenges faced by Native artists and opportunities to better support them.

data from the report

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An estimated 30% of all Native peoples are practicing or potential artists, and most live below the poverty line.

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51% of Native households on Pine Ridge Reservation depend on home-based enterprises for cash income.

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79% of those home-based enterprises on Pine Ridge Reservation consist of some form of traditional arts.

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61% of emerging artists report household incomes of less than $10,000.

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7.5% of First Peoples Fund artists report household incomes of less than $10,000.

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We, and our partners at Artspace, have seen firsthand the positive impact of Native arts in Indian Country. This report supports the argument that Native art can be used as a robust and sustainable economic driver if artists have access to culturally appropriate financial and business training and affordable capital and markets, and can become part of a professional network.

-Lori Pourier (Oglala Lakota) President, First Peoples Fund