Blow up: art as a beautiful economic tool.

PositionARTS IN N.C.

Local arts councils have long supported art for art's sake. Now, city and state officials are pushing art for economic development's sake. And not just in small towns, which have struggled the most to regain lost ground after the recession of 2007-09.

When Americans for the Arts tallied the impact of nonprofit arts organizations in North Carolina, it added up to $2.12 billion in economic activity. The so-called "creative economy" grew 21% from 2006 to 2015, supporting 189,030 jobs. We highlight three cities--Kinston, Asheville and Raleigh--with high hopes for the arts.

Other communities are seeing the fruits of years of labor. Forsyth County doubled the economic impact of its arts sectors from $76.6 million in 2000 to $156.8 million in 2015...

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