“WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today reintroduced the Promoting Local Arts and Creative Economy Workforce (PLACE) Act, legislation that will support workers and small businesses in creative industries by increasing federal resources and expanding federal benefits for those using creativity and skill in their employment.

“Creative workers support local arts and innovation, help different cultures tell their stories, and bring people together as a society. It’s the kind of work we should invest in – and doing so will create jobs, help small businesses, and grow our economy,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation.

“The creative economy includes individuals and businesses focused on individual creativity, skill, talent, or expression of indigenous culture or regional or local heritage culture, and which operate, are employed by, or contract with creative economy businesses. As of 2019, the creative economy adds $919.7 billion a year to our nation’s Gross Domestic Product, produces a $33 billion trade surplus in the sector, and has a rate of growth that nearly doubles the rest of our economy. While the sector was among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, creative workers and businesses have started to resume operations due to strong demand for their services.”

Read the full press release here