ArtsLab

from Cultural Initiatives of Silicon Valley, California

Cultural Initiatives of Silicon Valley champions the implementation of a regional strategy to develop cultural and creative aspects of Silicon Valley life. Their body of research is particularly useful to those engaged in community development and creative economies.

The first publication is a Working Paper, identifying an index of indicators and framework for measuring progress as a creative community.

As a result of the working paper, there is now available The Creative Community Index, which helps illustrate a growing body of evidence that the arts produce tangible social and economic benefits. For the past two decades, a variety of research has documented the positive influence of the arts on human development and on robust economies. More recently, research has also begun to highlight the impact of the arts on the ambient creativity of cities or regions and on the ability of communities to establish bonds of social trust and understanding.