by John M. Eger

May 7, 2025

At the start of the Trump administration, we saw mass resignations from the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities dissolved, the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities discarded it’s program of grants to underserved communities, and the Art Museum of the Americas cancelled exhibitions they funded to support diversity. Federal funding cuts followed: to most all grants and funds supporting agencies responsible for art and culture including the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences and the Department of Education.

This  absence of leadership in the arts shifts the responsibility to uphold fairness and inclusion in the arts and all such matters fall on our cities and communities.

As nations, states, and cities reinvent themselves for a vastly different economic landscape, embracing creativity and innovation is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Fortunately many cities and some states are paving the way to the new creative economy because they know that a dynamic system that fuels growth by harnessing the power of imagination, innovation, and culture is the pathway to jobs, to wealth and well-being, in turn  a truly creative community that thrives at the intersection of art, culture, and commerce. 

San Diego for example, officially launched what’s hailed as a “cultural planning process called “A Creative City” hoping to “capture the power of our many traditions, ecologies, and creative capital to propel our city and transborder region forward as a more equitable place of inspiration and prosperity. “ 

City planners, including Jonathon Glus, Director of the Commission on Art and Culture, called: this effort the future of San Diego … “where art and culture advance the dialogue, development and diversity of our city. Residents of San Diego, the greater metropolitan area, and the multiple nations that call this region home are encouraged to lend your voices and vision as artists, culture workers, and creatives defining our future as a dynamic global city.”  San Diego’s plan looks promising and is impressive .

Most art based organizations are scrambling for donations. Other such communities have made investments like San Diego in the human and financial resources necessary to equip its citizens with the skills and mindset needed to navigate a rapidly evolving, knowledge-driven world. More than just a hub of economic activity, these cities know that a creative community cultivates vibrant cultural spaces that attract and retain the talent necessary for innovation.

Ed Lee, former Mayor of San Francisco once said : “Cities today are the engines of the greatest surge in innovation, creativity and problem solving in human history … and cities that think of themselves as platforms will become stronger, attract better talent and become smarter from the bottom up.” In today’s economy, success is no longer measured solely by industrial output or financial markets. Innovation is the new currency. But to foster innovation, we need creativity. 

Rebuilding any city—from housing and infrastructure to education and energy systems—is a massive undertaking. But creating a knowledge city or a creative community is just as complex. To succeed in the creative economy, we must rethink urban design, education, and community engagement.

Theresa Cameron, former Local Arts Agency Services Program Manager at Americans for the Arts, argues that one way to serve a community is by adopting art and cultural districts—such districts filled with art galleries, theaters, music venues, public performance spaces, restaurants, cafés, and retail shops—can serve as incubators for creativity and magnets for talent. These vibrant environments foster the kind of innovation that cities need to remain competitive in the modern economy.

Cities must take action to:

• Empower citizens to take ownership of their communities.
• Build world-class broadband infrastructure to support digital and creative industries.
• Revamp education systems to prepare the next generation for careers in the creative economy.

These ingredients are crucial for attracting the bright, inventive minds who will generate new patents, design innovative products, and develop the marketing and financial strategies to bring them to market. Embracing the creative economy is not just about fostering a flourishing arts scene—it’s about securing  our economic, social, and political dominance in the 21st century. Innovation and creativity are the driving forces behind new industries, world-changing technologies, and the jobs of the future.

The message is clear: If we fail to adapt, we risk being left behind. But if we embrace creativity, we can build a future defined not by economic stagnation, but by endless possibilities.