Supporting the arts fuels economic mobility and opportunities in Black communities

By Lynnette Nicholas | Citizens Contributor

Throughout history, the contributions of Black Americans to the arts have been vast.

Musically, these contributions span entire genres, including rhythm and blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, rap and more. Stage performances and motion picture history have deep roots with forerunners like dancer Josephine Baker, singer Esther Jones and director Oscar Micheaux. The world of high-society fashion has long been influenced by Black designers, such as first-lady couture creators Elizabeth Keckley and Anne Lowe.

Black Americans have helped shape the artistic fabric of America by infusing a strong sense of identity in areas of the arts that spread outward to the rest of society. These changes bring more than just cultural influence. They often propel economic mobility and growth in the places where Black Americans' creative ideas started.

In the spirit of this year's theme for Black History Month, celebrating African Americans and the arts, here are three ways supporting Black artists is crucial for local communities.

Spurring economic opportunities

Supporting Black artists can fuel economic opportunities and shift cultural climates. When Black cultural events come to various cities, they can bring a large-scale revenue influx that boosts the local economy in a major way.

For example, the Essence Festival unites artistic experiences in one place with ventures in music, writing, beauty, film and more. Held annually in Louisiana, the 2023 event created 3,605 jobs, produced $120 million in labor income and added $189 million to the state's gross domestic product, according to the Louisiana Economic Development report.

Advertised as the largest African American street festival in the U.S., the Odunde Festival draws hundreds of thousands of people to Pennsylvania annually with live entertainment, food stands and craft vendors from a variety of heritages. The event began almost 50 years ago with a small grant. Now, the organization says it recently infused Philadelphia's economy with $28 million. The Brooklyn Academy of Music's DanceAfrica is another annual arts showcase that has been a boon for its community. The weekend festival pulls in 30,000 visitors with an outdoor marketplace, art exhibition, film screenings and master classes.

Invest Fest manages to combine the arts and finance and brings successful Black musicians, artists and cultural influencers — along with lawyers, economists and business advisors — to Atlanta. In 2023, more than 20,000 attendees showed up eager to learn about financial literacy from their icons.

Citizens recognizes that supporting artistic development has the power to bring economic growth to historically underrepresented communities. This is why we take pride in partnering with various art institutions that empower local artists, such as the Andy Warhol Museum and Industrial Arts Workshop in Pittsburgh.

Amplifying Black communities

Art has the power to reflect, express, uplift and anchor communities. Art institutions and national landmarks like The Legacy Museum and The National Memorial to Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL, are bringing Black voices to life while also properly archiving the past. Artists in their various mediums facilitate in helping forthcoming generations to stay in remembrance of the historical, cultural and artistic contributions of African Americans.

Citizens is committed to providing access and resources to the artists in the communities that we serve. For example, through our partnership with Artists for Humanity, we facilitate connecting young artists in Boston and New York City with mentors in their fields and help them find paid job opportunities so they can thrive within their community. Similarly, Citizens has long sponsored Mural Arts Philadelphia, which aims to transform public spaces with a collaborative, restorative art initiative aimed at inspiring a "more just and equitable" city.

Knowing the pivotal position and role that Citizens has for those we serve heightens our responsibility to help address critical economic needs and build stronger communities.

Bridging the gap in educational disparities

Access to the arts and access to arts education can help students in marginalized communities gain the tools and creative expression to better their lives and their neighborhoods. However, as notable business leader Robert F. Smith points out, arts education budget cuts disproportionately impact students of color, especially those in Black communities. For example, New York schools cut arts funding from $21.5 million to $6.5 million in 2021, spurring an advocacy campaign supported by the cast of Hamilton among many others.

Citizens aims to proactively combat this kind of loss of access to the arts in underrepresented communities. Our partnerships with Artists for Humanity, Industrial Arts Workshop and Mural Arts Philadelphia help provide studio space and hands-on experience for artists, particularly young and emerging creative voices.

Through corporate sponsorships, we support programs like the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival and Black Bottom Film Festival in Pittsburgh and Art Start in New York City. Citizens is committed to strengthening the communities we serve for the future by equipping them with the tools to be made ready for growth and opportunity that can be attributed to developing the arts.

Finding ways to make change that matters

The arts have the power to move humanity forward. Supporting the arts fuels the economy, helps communities thrive and shapes the minds of the future. Citizens believes embracing diverse perspectives makes us stronger and unlocks greater innovation, which is why we are proud to uplift programs that celebrate the arts and boost economic opportunities within our communities.