Philadelphia Creative Economy Facts
The Philadelphia region's Creative Economy is made up of diverse businesses, workers and resources and embodies both the non-profit and for-profit creative industries. While Innovation Philadelphia is focused on the for-profit technology driven creative industries, Innovation Philadelphia also remains committed to assisting and partnering with organizations that support the non-profit creative industries. The size and scope of the region's Creative Economy is continually expanding and growing. The facts below provide some enlightening and entertaining information about the region's Creative Economy.
- The Philadelphia Region graduates 23% more art graduate students than the national average.
- More art students start their own businesses than students graduating with business degrees.
- The creative industries in the Philadelphia Region generate more than $44 billion annually in revenue.
- MovieMaker magazine named Philadelphia the third best town in the country to make an independent film in its annual top 10 list.
- Philadelphia is the premier location for alternative music production. (Vibe Magazine, October 2003)
- Philadelphia is ranked sixth in Visual/Performing Arts graduates.
- 32% of the Philadelphia Region's workforce is a member of the Creative Class.
- Philadelphia region is home to more than 30 Architecture firms that employ over 1,900 people.
- The first computer, ENIAC, was born in Philadelphia.
- Philadelphia is home to the oldest multi-disciplinary arts center in the United States (Philadelphia Art Alliance).
- Philadelphia has one of the largest and most important museums in the United States (Philadelphia Art Museum).
- The oldest theatre in the United States opened in 1809 in Philadelphia and has been open ever since (Walnut Theatre).
- Since 1975, 70 feature length films have been filmed in Philadelphia.
- Philly Firsts:
- First Arts Museum - Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts - 1805
- First art school for women - Moore College of Art & Design - 1848
- First tuition free conservatory - The Curtis School of Music - 1928
- First children's museum - Please Touch Museum - 1976
- The Philadelphia Live Arts and Festival & Philly Fringe were highlighted as one of the season's best fringe festivals in Oprah's O Magazine (August 2005).
- The New York Times (August 14, 2005) categorized Philadelphia as "The Next Borough" with people being attracted to the city's "thriving arts and music scene and a cost of living that is 37 percent lower than New York's" with "a significant number of youngish artists, musicians, restaurateurs and designers are leaving New York City and heading down the turnpike."
- The music industry is a significant player in the Philadelphia economy with an annual impact of nearly $1.9 billion for the City and over $4.9 billion for the Region.
- The music industry is directly or indirectly responsible for over 28,000 jobs in the City and over 58,000 jobs in the Region.
- In absolute size, the Philadelphia music cluster is larger than its counterparts in such notable "music cities" as Seattle, Nashville, or Austin.
- Since 1992, the economic impact of Philadelphia's film industry has been more than $1 billion.
- The Philadelphia Region has more than 2,300 Web site Designers and Computer Consultants.
- In 2003, Philadelphia architecture firms generated more than $300 million in revenue.
- There are more than 18,300 technology employees in the Philadelphia Region.
- The Philadelphia Region has approximately 1,000 arts and cultural organizations.
- There are more than 89 theatre companies in the Philadelphia region.
- Philadelphia has more than 129 musical organizations.
- There are more than 166 museums in the Philadelphia Region.