Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning is pleased to announce that Florida has been highlighted in a new report from the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices called Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development. This report highlights the benefits and potential for growth that arts and culture bring to state economies.

"This national report confirms a belief that the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs has held for many years – investments in arts and culture play an undeniably vital role in state economic development," said Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning.

The report emphasizes that arts and culture-related industries, collectively known as "creative industries," provide direct economic benefits to states and communities by creating jobs, attracting new investments, generating tax revenues, and stimulating tourism and consumer purchases.

The report encourages state governments across the country to incorporate the arts and culture into their long-term economic development strategies. It also offers several steps that states can take now to realize the full potential of their creative industries.

Florida is mentioned specifically several times throughout the report. The report highlights the Division's strategic plan Culture Builds Florida's Future, in addition to the Cultural Facilities Grant Program, and other statewide tourism initiatives including Culturally Florida.

The report is the sixth in a series of publications that document how the arts can help states develop additional economic opportunities.

The Division of Cultural Affairs fosters the development of Florida's arts and cultural landscape through information services, grant programs, and other initiatives. 2009 marks the Division's 40th anniversary of supporting the arts and culture in Florida. For further information on the Division of Cultural Affairs, visit www.florida-arts.org.