A recent gathering at Central Lakes College in Brainerd brought together advocates from Minnesota Citizens for the Arts to present findings on the cultural sector’s contribution to the state’s financial landscape. The 2025 report, titled Creative Minnesota: Economic Impact of the Arts, highlights that in 2024, nonprofit arts and culture organizations contributed $1.6 billion to the state’s economy. These institutions supported over 138,000 individuals employed in creative roles and attracted a total of 17.7 million participants to cultural events. When combining both nonprofit and commercial art ventures, the entire creative industry reached an economic value of $13.8 billion—surpassing the combined output of agriculture and forestry sectors in the state.
— news from Lakeland PBS
— News Original —
‘Minnesota Citizens for the Arts’ Discusses Economic Impact of Arts Statewide
Representatives from Minnesota Citizens for the Arts held an event at Central Lakes College in Brainerd last month to highlight new data on the powerful role of arts and culture on the state’s economy. n nThe Creative Minnesota: Economic Impact of the Arts 2025 report shows that in 2024, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $1.6 billion in total economic impact statewide, supported 138,360 creative workers, and drew 17.7 million attendees to events. Altogether, non-profit and for-profit art is a $13.8 billion industry in Minnesota and is a bigger industry sector than agriculture and forestry.