Creative Economy in Illinois and COVID-19 Impact
updated as of February 2021
The Creative Economy is Big Business in Illinois
$30 Billion approx.
generated annually in Illinois by the creative economy, accounting for a larger part of the annual GSP than construction or agriculture.1
216,722
creative workers in Illinois.1
22,482
creative businesses in Illinois.2
$480 million approx.
in revenue generated to local and state government from spending by Illinois nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences.3
COVID-19 is Devastating Illinois’s Creative Economy
$5.3 billion cumulative losses for Illinois creative industries through July 2020 (est.), making Illinois one of the states with the highest loss of creative industry revenue in the nation.4
96% of Illinois arts and culture organizations report having had to cancel events, leading to an average loss of 1000 attendees per organization.7
$363,550 average financial loss per arts and culture organization in Illinois.5
68% Illinois creative organizations expect to be severely impacted by COVID-19.7
104,618 Unemployed creative industry workers in Illinois as a result of COVID-19, making Illinois one of the states with the highest loss of creative industry workers in the nation.4
63% of Illinois’s creative organizations reported having laid off or furloughed creative workers and staff.7
371% annual increase
In unemployment insurance (UI) claims in Arts, Entertainment, Sport & Media occupations in Illinois since December 2019. This is far higher than the annual increase in UI claims across all industries and occupations in Illinois (238%).6
8.5% Decrease
in shares of giving for arts and culture in 2020, the largest such decline in the last decade. 2020 saw record levels of giving; however, in areas like education, human services, and the environment (Giving USA)
66% of unemployed artists that self reported are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) versus 52% of white artists.8
20% more revenue loss among smaller BIPOC arts and culture organizations compared to their predominantly white counterparts.5
The Creative Sector Makes Communities Stronger
90% of Americans believe that arts and cultural facilities are important for their community’s quality of life.9
72% of Americans believe the arts unify our communities, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity.9
$35.08 is the amount each Illinois nonprofit arts and cultural event attendee spends beyond the ticket cost on meals, retail, parking, lodging, local transportation, childcare, and souvenirs. These dollars provide vital income to local merchants, energize the downtown, and pay salaries and wages in non-arts sectors. This is more than $2 billion in ancillary spending in Illinois directly because of cultural events and almost $480 million revenue generated to local and state government.3
Creative Workers Stand Ready to Aid Recovery
76% of artists have used their art to raise moral and create community cohesion during the pandemic.10
83% of creative workers are ready to put their creative practice to use as part of national recovery.10
89% of Illinois arts nonprofits have been delivering artistic content to raise community spirits during social distancing/quarantine.7