Cultural Ecologies and Local Policies: A Comparative Analysis

In recent years, the role of arts and culture in economic development, community outreach, and local government has become focused on as a field of study. However, this is a new field of academic study, and there have not been many systematic comparative analyses of the role of arts and culture at the local level. Indeed, there is limited information at the state and federal level as well. Historically undervalued and underrepresented, yet with a streak of elitism involved, arts and culture is now being looked at as a major economic driver and social connector by policymakers at all levels of government, with a positive effort coming from cities and county governments. However, this political will erodes the higher one goes in jurisdiction, with state and federal governments choosing to slash arts and culture funding as an "elective" aspect of life that has no economic value at first glance. This work aims to rebut this argument and make the claim that investing in arts and culture will lead to positive socioeconomic outcomes if it is done properly, utilizing an observational-qualitative method to approach the subject with a trio of case studies proving the economic potential of the arts and showcasing the value of arts and culture beyond the economic, especially its place in both community building and arms-length level local policy. The study is by no means exhaustive but aims to add to the limited existing literature and provide guideposts for further, more in-depth research and analysis into the field.