In June, I hosted a “Let’s Talk Local” conversation focused on arts, tourism, and the creative economy. We gathered in the Friends Room at the Daniel Boone Regional Library as part of a new initiative to bring your City Council out into the community to listen and learn — an effort you can follow at BeHeard.CoMo.gov/Ask-City-Council.
The conversation that day was full of heart and hometown pride. Artists, nonprofit art administrators, art teachers, and residents all shared how the creative community shapes Columbia — not just economically, but socially and emotionally. We didn’t just talk about ticket sales or tourism — such as the fact that tourism-related spending in FY24 amounted to more than $567 million in our hotels, restaurants, shops, event venues, and cultural spaces, supporting over 11,500 jobs — we talked about what it feels like to live in a city where art is everywhere. In short, it feels good.
And it turns out, those feelings are backed by data. According to a 2023 Arts & Economic Prosperity study conducted by Americans for the Arts, in partnership with our Office of Cultural Affairs, more than 90 percent of Columbia residents say the arts improve their quality of life. Nearly the same number said arts experiences made them feel proud of their community — and that they’d miss these opportunities deeply if they were gone.
That resonates with what I hear from residents every day. Whether it’s a free concert at Rose Park, First Fridays in North Village Arts District, or the dedication of the mural on the side of the Health Department, the arts help us connect — with each other, with our neighborhoods, and with our sense of place. They make our city more welcoming, more imaginative, and more inclusive.
Of course, there’s an economic piece, too. In Columbia, nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences generate more than $18 million in direct local spending every year. But the most powerful number I heard at the event wasn’t about dollars: It was that more than 80 percent of attendees surveyed said the arts make them feel connected to others, even people they’ve never met. In a time when so many are searching for belonging, that’s priceless.
That’s why the city continues to invest in the Office of Cultural Affairs, public art programs, and the Columbia Arts Fund. One source of that investment is the Tourism Development Fund, run through the Convention and Visitors Bureau, which reinvests tourism dollars into events like the True/False Film Fest, Art in the Park, We Always Swing Jazz Series, MU Concert Series, Central Bank Downtown Live, and so many others. These events continue the cycle of vibrant activities that encourage locals and visitors to experience Columbia.
We know this isn’t just about entertainment — it’s about identity, opportunity, and legacy. That’s why we’re excited about new possibilities: activating underused spaces with creative placemaking, supporting cultural festivals that celebrate Columbia’s diverse voices, and deepening partnerships with our schools, universities, and neighborhoods to ensure all residents have access to arts education and expression. I’m so proud of the artists and cultural workers who make Columbia shine. I’m equally proud of the residents who show up to galleries, stages, and parks to support them.
The next time you attend a GreenHouse Theatre Project performance, pause to listen to a downtown busker, or admire a mural along the MKT Trail, remember: You’re not just enjoying art. You’re helping create a stronger, more connected Columbia.
