Geographic and Political Distribution of Arts-Related Jobs in Illinois, March 2003
Commissioned by the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation

With the generous support from the Sara Lee Foundation and additional support provided by the Polk Bros. Foundation and the City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation commissioned the research, which was conducted by iMapData, Inc.

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

The number of arts-related jobs increased 22%, outperforming overall growth in the State of Illinois.

• The number of arts-related job increased 22% between 1995 and 2002, from 105,165 to 128,107
• Overall job growth for the state increased 21% from 5,694,604 jobs to 6,986,939 jobs over the same period
• Number of arts-related businesses increased 17% to 19,110 from 16,373 over the same period of time

The Chicago suburbs account for as many arts-related jobs as downtown Chicago.

• Of the 99,779 arts-related jobs in Chicago and its suburbs, 33% art in the Chicago core-city area, 12% are in the inner-ring area around the core-city area, and 33% are in an outer-ring area in the suburbs
• The suburbs have added arts-related jobs while downtown Chicago has maintained its arts-related jobs

Arts-related jobs in communities outside of the Chicago metropolitan area comprise a larger percent of Illinois total arts-related jobs.

• Of Illinois' 128,107 arts-related jobs, 99,779 or 78% are in Chicago and its suburbs compared to 80% in 1995

Arts-related enterprises have an inherent economic tendency to cluster or concentrate in geographical spaces; becoming a magnet to attract additional arts-related enterprises.

• Geographic area characterized by concentrations of arts-related businesses - like Chicago - tend to draw more land and small scale arts-related businesses and, in turn, more affluent shoppers and residents

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METHODOLOGY

The data-collection methodology for this study replicated that of a 1995 study, "Geographic and Political Distribution of Arts-Related Jobs in Illinois," thereby enabling consistent comparisons between 1995 and 2002. In both studies, the data was collected from Dun & Bradstreet, using 63 categories of "arts-related" jobs - jobs in business firms that exist in whole or in part to serve the arts industries of Illinois. The 2002 “Geographic and Political Distribution of Arts-Related Jobs in Illinois” study was conducted by William Lilley III, Laurence J. DeFranco and Clarence Buffalo of iMapData, Inc. on behalf of the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation.

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