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The Arts Mean Business in Dubuque
The Non-Profit Arts Industry in Dubuque Generates $47.2 Million in Annual Economic Activity
The non-profit arts and culture industry in Dubuque generates $47.2 million in annual economic activity, supporting 1,530 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $5 million in local and state government revenues and $36.7 million in household income to local residents, according to the Arts and Economic Prosperity IV national economic impact study.
"Everyone can agree that the arts inspire, educate, engage and improve quality of life in Dubuque," says Mayor Roy Buol. "The City Council has made the arts a high priority in our goals over the past decade. With this study, we now know, without a doubt, that the arts make good economic sense -- over $47.2 million dollars of sense. The arts are absolutely an economic force in Dubuque. Any city would roll out the red carpet for an industry which supports 1,530 jobs. The arts truly make Dubuque a 'Masterpiece on the Mississippi."
The Arts & Economic Prosperity IV was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and education, in 2012. The City of Dubuque was one of just 182 study regions that participated in the study.
Annual Arts & Business Luncheon
The Annual Arts & Business Luncheon was instituted in 2016 facilitated by the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs to create a platform in which the arts and business sectors of Dubuque and the surrounding area could come together to network and learn alongside one another.
The 4th Annual Arts & Business Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, November 19 and welcomes Carl Atiya Swanson, Associate Program Director of Springboard for the Arts, to the Grand River Center in Dubuque to speak on Springboard's Creative People Power initiative, a framework for combining creativity-driven and people-centered development to build strong, healthy, and resilient communities. In addition to Carl’s keynote, the luncheon will feature a conversation with local champions of arts and business cross-sector collaboration including Brad and Jillayne Pinchuk of Hirschbach Trucking, Jeff Mozena of Premier Bank, and Mark Wahlert of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.
Event check-in opens at 11:30 AM with Welcome and Lunch Service at 12 PM. Keynote followed by Panel Conversation starts at 12:30 PM and we'll have you on your way by 1:30 PM.
The Arts and Business Luncheon along with other Arts Mean Business activities are a program of the City of Dubuque’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs with planning support from citizen volunteers and sponsorship from Travel Dubuque and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce. Other support provided by Dubuque Main Street, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Springboard for the Arts, Hirschbach Trucking, Premier Bank, and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.
For more on Carl Atiya Swanson and Springboard for the Arts, visit https://www.carlatiyaswanson.com and https://springboardforthearts.org.
Register online at Eventbrite or call 563-690-6059 to reserve your spot over the phone. Need-based scholarships to waive event fees are available for those on a fixed or limited income; please contact City of Dubuque Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Jenni Petersen-Brant at 563-690-6059 of jbrant@cityofdubuque.org to request.
Arts & Business Academy
In addition to the Arts & Business Luncheon, an Arts & Business Academy workshop work be held in the evening of November 19 at Smokestack at 62 E. 7th St. in Dubuque from 6:30-8 PM. The Arts & Business Academy aims to provide professional development and business skills training for artists, creative entrepreneurs, and arts and culture non-profits. This year's workshop will be led by Swanson using Springboard for the Arts' Work of Art professional development toolkit to highlight project ideation and program development strategies. Light bites will be served and a cash bar will be available.
Register online at Eventbrite or call 563-690-6059 to reserve your spot over the phone. Need-based scholarships to waive event fees are available for those on a fixed or limited income; please contact City of Dubuque Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Jenni Petersen-Brant at 563-690-6059 of jbrant@cityofdubuque.org to request.