State of Creativity— New Mexico Releases Comprehensive Industry Study
Creative Startups unveils the New Mexico Creative Industries Study 2024, in partnership with NM Economic Development Department and collaborators
Creative Startups has announced the release of the Creative Industries Division (CID) study, a deep look at the creative economy at work throughout New Mexico. The study, completed in partnership with the New Mexico Economic Development Department and other partners, is available on the EDD website.
"This new division is an opportunity for the department to assist a longstanding and vibrant community in New Mexico and build the state’s capacity to support business development and entrepreneurial growth for industries that aren’t traditionally targeted through economic development,” EDD Acting Secretary Mark Roper said.
Creative Startups led the year-long study, along with collaborators Vital Spaces and the Poeh Cultural Center, and with support from EDD’s Shani Harvie, the newly appointed CID director. The effort engaged creative leaders across the state and serves as a guide for the future of the sustainability of the new division. Readers will learn about New Mexico’s creative industries with the most employment, collaborations that bring together culture and innovation, and strategies and perspectives to grow the industries.
“The team at Creative Startups has been an amazing partner for EDD. They engaged creatives in all 33 counties across New Mexico for this study and connected with creative economy leaders and supporters in neighboring states and national organizations to bring insight and expertise into this plan,” Harvie said.
"What gives us optimism about the future of New Mexico’s creative industries is the spirit of creativity we met throughout the state, both where we expected it and where we did not,” Creative Startups Lead Researcher Mike Young said. “The creatives of New Mexico are resilient, collaborative, forward-thinking, deeply respectful of cultural heritage, and fiercely devoted to the places they have chosen to live, work, and raise families. The creative industries are both industries unto themselves and the innovation engine for the economy-at-large. And that ‘innovation engine’ role is one we believe that a thriving Creative Industries Division can also play."
The inaugural Creative Industries Week took place June 5 to 9, including several virtual discussions which can be found on the division webpage. The events brought over 50 speakers, including entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, and technologists, and ranged from online opportunities to live in-person events across the entire state. The week’s events included local markets in Farmington and Mora; pop-ups at the Poeh Center, Kearny, and Santa Fe; and festivals like Bueno Fest, Space Fiesta, and The Life of Building Lowriders in Española; and many more events and markets. The online discussions covered a range of topics from Colliding Art and Journalism, JTIP for Creatives, Culturally Embedded Entrepreneurship, Creative Entrepreneurship for Social Impact, and over twenty other online panels that took place over the week.
The Creative Industries Division was made possible through HB 8 by bill sponsors Representative Reena Szczepanski and Senator Jeff Steinborn, co-sponsors Representatives D. Wonda Johnson, Tara L. Lujan, and Janelle Anyanonu, signed into law by the Governor on April 5, 2023.
About New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD):
EDD’s mission is to improve the lives of New Mexico families by increasing economic opportunities and providing a place for businesses to thrive. EDD’s programs contribute directly to this mission by training our workforce, providing infrastructure that supports business growth, and helping every community create a thriving economy.
About Creative Startups:
Creative Startups, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has a proven track record developing economic strategies and programs leading to measurable economic growth in the creative industries. At the forefront of the creative economy for 15 years, Creative Startups develops strategic plans for regional governments, supplies in-depth economic analyses of assets and market opportunities, supports cultural and tribal institutions, and develops and delivers innovative programs for creative entrepreneurs and artists. Through their work across New Mexico, the USA, and the world, Creative Startups has developed a comprehensive understanding of the technologies and trends driving the remarkable expansion of creative industries.
Do you have a more condensed version of the report? I’m sure you spent tons of time on this full report and that it contains lots of useful information, but I simply don’t have time to read the whole thing :/