CREATE Plan

Delaware’s creative industries contribute significantly to the state’s economy but despite strong support for small and independent businesses, significant disparities exist along sector, gender, and racial lines. In order to address these inequities and realize a true creative ecosystem, developing fair pay guidelines for artists, creatives and other industry professionals will be a critical first step. Additionally, more regulatory oversight is needed to foster Delaware’s Audiovisual and Interactive Media sector, which employs the majority of creatives in the state.

1. Include the creative economy in statewide business and economic development communications and programs
2. Create a full-time government position to represent the interests of the creative economy’s self-employed and small businesses
3. Create fair pay guidelines for artists, creatives, and professionals in the creative industries
4. Modernize Delaware’s film and media-production industry

Many stakeholders indicated that Delaware’s tourism sector should amplify local arts and culture. However, the state faces a branding challenge as a “pass-through” between major cities like Philadelphia and New York. This proximity provides easy access to out-of-state activities but also offers an opportunity to distinguish Delaware’s creative economy. To become a tourism destination, recommendations are focused on integrating local culture into tourism—particularly in the southern region—and promoting special events that can appeal to tourists seeking unique and authentic experiences.

1. Develop a statewide cultural economy brand to benefit tourism, economic development, export, and audience development
2. Increase cultural tourism offerings
3. Emphasize arts & culture in Delaware’s tourism communications

While private and public funding streams for the creative economy exist in Delaware, stakeholders express that financial support is inconsistent, unreliable, and insufficient. In order to move toward a more sustainable funding model, a recommended strategy will be to identify additional revenue streams from a variety of sources, while also ensuring that access to funding is more accessible and equitable to all members of the creative community. 

1. Identify additional revenue streams to support Delaware’s creative economy
2. Expand equitable arts funding

Arts education in Delaware lacks equal distribution and does not adequately support all students, especially those in secondary education. A robust arts education is crucial for a thriving creative economy and benefits other sectors and the state’s economy as a whole. While Delaware has talented arts educators and some opportunities at primary and higher education levels, there is a need to bridge the gap between students and higher education in creative fields, promoting the creative economy as a valuable path for professional development.

1. Secure arts funding for every student in public education
2. Make arts education mandatory in secondary education
3. Improve career development opportunities for secondary education students
4. Advocate for more pathway courses and associate degrees related to the creative economy

A need for more accessible and structured professional development was a recurring sentiment amongst survey respondents and stakeholders. Members of the creative economy resoundingly shared a desire to learn skills for marketing, social media, and fundraising, as well as business and financial management. Creating more resources for enhanced professionalism—and making them widely available to the creative community—will be essential to helping individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations achieve greater independence and contribute to a thriving creative economy in Delaware.

1. Host professional development workshops and lectures
2. Improve professionalization related to copyright and IP with the support of legal professionals
3. Formalize creative economy internships

Currently, Delaware faces challenges with underdeveloped civic infrastructure, which is crucial for enhancing employment quality, attracting cultural tourists, and targeting key sectors. With this in mind, a vast majority of the recommendations provided are oriented towards stimulating job growth and professionalization. While building new infrastructure may be challenging, repurposing underused spaces in downtown areas and addressing transportation equity are vital steps for a fair and accessible creative economy in Delaware.

1. Identify and promote spaces for the creative economy
2. Support access to increased public transportation in Delaware

Delaware’s diverse audiences are eager to engage with its creative economy, but marketing efforts need enhancement along with additional support, funding, and professionalization to cultivate these audiences. Despite a broad tourism offering, the state lacks a strong brand for its creative economy and faces gaps in understanding and supporting its full potential, especially for BIPOC and women. The way forward involves developing assets and opportunities across the state, prioritizing equity, and recognizing the creative economy’s value as an economic, social, and cultural driver.

1. Offer transit shelter and outdoor advertising space to nonprofits
2. Improve the maturity of creative industries-specific marketing practices and knowledge with work-study placements and grants
3. Perform an annual marketing campaign promoting DelawareScene