Okay, this is going to sound a little off-topic for a blog like this, but bear with us for a minute.

The Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) today announced key findings from the CEDOT: Great Lakes Arts, Culture, and Heritage Participation Survey, developed in partnership with Michigan State University (MSU). The long-awaited survey provides economic information from more than 6,000 households in Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes states, concerning residents' arts and cultural participation and consumerism, from their purchases and travel decisions to employment and education opportunities.

Why is this important?

Well, we've written about the important role the arts community will play in Michigan's economy recovery in the past:

The Armory Arts Project is an apt symbol for everything the City of Jackson has gone through over the years. The goal is to take this old, run-down structure, and turn it into the hub for Jackson's economic revitalization plan.

There's been a lot of talk in recent years about attracting young, knowledge workers to our state. Well, here's the perfect opportunity to actually make it happen!

Jackson's Armory Arts project is a major cornerstone in that city's revitalization plan. Clearly, the arts community is a crucial economic sector, and should not be overlooked by any city hoping to revitalize their downtown districts.

Well, the survey results seem to support this logic:

• Artists are entrepreneurial and want to grow their businesses. Seventy-five percent of Michigan artists want to support themselves with their arts-related income but face major barriers such as financing, marketing, credentials and location.

• Seventy percent of survey respondents participated in some type of visual, performing, or literary arts or crafts lessons or classes as children and spent an average of $462 annually for arts education of their children.

• Thirty-seven percent of all respondents and 36 percent of Michigan respondents attended theatrical performances over the last year, spending an average of $38 and as much as $250 for tickets.

• Nearly 15 percent of Michigan respondents made financial donations to arts, heritage or cultural organizations and 30 percent provided one to five hours of volunteer service during the previous 12 months.

There are two key points here: (1) Artists are entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses, but they face numerous funding barriers; (2) Consumers value the arts, and are willing to support this vital industry.

The Trust Fund understands the connection between the arts community and a city's economic revitalization, which is why we're proud of our loan to the Williamston Theatre to support their expansion and façade improvements. This is actually a fabulous project, and we'll have more details on this loan in the upcoming edition of our Community Quarterly newsletter, which should be out within a week.

Keep an eye out for that, but in the meantime, check out the whole Great Lakes Arts, Culture, and Heritage Participation Survey Report here (PDF).