The maker movement is the platform for today’s artisans to create, craft, develop and prototype new and interesting ideas and products. This new, hyperlocal manufacturing environment holds potential not only for individual hobbyists but also for community-wide advances in local entrepreneurship and job creation.

City leaders are excited by, and are supporting, the entrepreneurship, increased economic activity, and improved services brought about by small scale manufacturing. How Cities Can Grow the Maker Movement explores the emergence of the maker movement within a selection...

The entire U.S. arts and culture sector (i.e., nonprofit, commercial, education) was a $804 billion industry in 2016. This represents 4.3 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—a larger share of the economy than transportation, agriculture, or construction—according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were 2.55 million artists in the U.S. workforce in 2017—representing 1.6 percent of all workers 16 and older.

• The United States has exported more arts and cultural goods and services than it imported since 2006, including during the Great Recession. In 2016, the arts netted a $25-billion-dollar international trade surplus.

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts are also a fundamental component of a healthy community—strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persist even in difficult social and economic times.

The entire U.S. arts and culture sector (i.e., nonprofit, commercial, education) is a $764 billion industry. This represents 4.2 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—a larger share of the economy than transportation, agriculture, or construction—according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.