On July 18, 2008, Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed an order creating the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. In addition, Mayor Nutter announced Gary Steuer as Chief Cultural Officer, who will begin his term in October.
The re-establishment of this office fulfills a promise that Mayor Nutter emphasized during his campaign; to restore an office that was cut from the City’s budget four years ago. Mayor Nutter also re-established the Cultural Advisory Council, which will advise his administration on issues related to arts and culture, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports. Joe Kluger, associate principal at the arts-consulting firm WolfBrown, will head the council.
“We are very serious about arts and culture and the creative economy here in Philadelphia," said Mayor Nutter, who was given a standing ovation by the packed room of arts community members who attended the announcement. "Art and culture are not just about pretty pictures and performances. . . . They are also an economic development tool, a tremendous asset for the city."
The City of Philadelphia reports that the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will be housed in the Mayor’s office. Responsibilities of the office include: improving access to the arts for both residents and visitors; expanding arts education for young people; overseeing all of the City’s arts programs; supporting the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture and creative economy sector, by promoting public and private investment in the creative economy sector; coordinating with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s art efforts; and serving as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions.
This positive change for the city will have a tremendous impact on the for-profit, creative economy, a $60 billion industry in the Philadelphia Region. Mayor Nutter’s attention to the importance of the creative economy by re-establishing this office reiterates the great importance of the creative industries to the City of Philadelphia and to the City’s economic prosperity.
Members of the for-profit, creative economy are excited about this proactive step to enhance Philadelphia’s creative economy. “The mayor gets it. He knows that a serious commitment to the [creative economy] is essential for attracting young people to Philadelphia,” said David Fish, Executive Director of Assembly, a newly-opened production and post-production company based in Manayunk. “A youthful, vibrant population that both creates and seeks out arts and culture can have a huge impact on the Philadelphia's overall economy. It's a great move.”
Matthew Fisher, President of Night Kitchen Interactive, says that the reopening of the office is a great move for the City. “It’s a sign that our city is serious about embracing the next generation of Philadelphians. It’s a generation that’s creative, tech-savvy and enthusiastic about putting Philly on the map. They want our city to be recognized not just for its magnificent heritage, but for the creative contributions that they are making, online and on the town. The city’s new office can be a great connector, facilitator and promoter. Creatives need a voice, and a platform.”
Fisher adds that the administration is starting to understand the importance of the creative economy. “Mayor Nutter didn’t just open re-open the old office, he’s clearly re-envisioned it by both including the term ‘creative economy’ in the title and in his selection of Gary Steuer, a top-tier expert in how arts and business benefit each other,” Fisher says.
Hilary Jay, Executive Director of the Design Center at Philadelphia University, adds that the addition of the creative economy to the new office means that the Mayor must value both the financial strength and citywide enrichment that innovative institutions and businesses bring to Philadelphia and the region.
According to Fisher, when art thrives, so does the creative economy – and everything else that goes with it. “But it’s not just about dollars and contracts and the here and now. It’s about engaging that next generation of audiences and benefactors, and showcasing Philadelphia’s cultural riches to a young, talented pool of employees, artists and citizens,” he says.
The Art Czar
Gary Steuer, former vice president of Americans for the Arts, a New York-based non-profit, will be the first chief cultural office of the Office of the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
“After an exhaustive national search, I am tremendously pleased to have Gary Steuer join my Administration,” Mayor Nutter said at a press conference. He commends Steuer for his experiences as an arts manager and advocate and said that his unique perspective will help grow the arts community. “[This is] an important step to creating a healthier more vibrant Philadelphia,” Mayor Nutter said.
“I am thrilled by the opportunity the Mayor has provided me to work with him, his team and the great arts and civic leaders of Philadelphia to serve this city,” Steuer said at a press conference. Steuer also stressed the importance to integrate the arts in City programs and policies, for there is a growing recognition of the important of the arts in workforce development, business attraction and retention, community revitalization, civic engagement and tourism. “Mayor Nutter understands this and I look forward to serving him and the people of Philadelphia,” he added.
New York is a great arts town, Steuer told the Inquirer. "But Philadelphia is on a scale somewhat smaller, which makes it an exciting place to implement change."
“Choosing to include the for-profit creative industry is important for the City of Philadelphia,” said Kelly Lee, Executive Vice President of Innovation Philadelphia. “Combined, the for-profit and non-profit creative economy is one of the largest economic generators in the region. This can establish a unique identity for the region to stand out from its competitors, attract new residents and businesses, grow the population and increase the tax base of Philadelphia.”