Lowell polls contributors to ‘creative economy’

Lowell is seeking to gauge the size and diversity of its creative community, a project designed in part to put the city in better position to obtain grant money.

The “Creative Economy Census,” prepared by the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the nonprofit Cultural Organization of Lowell, is designed to elicit information from more than 40 types of creative individuals, ranging from painters, sculptors and tattoo artists to film and literary editors, broadcast technicians, musical instrument makers, and cake decorators.

Participants are asked to answer more than 30 questions, such as how many hours they devote to their art or craft each week, how much money they earn, how much they spend on supplies, and “the three greatest needs to support your creative professional growth.”

“We really want to get people to tell us what they do in very specific terms,” said Suzzanne Cromwell, the city official who is coordinating the effort.

Collecting data will make it easier to measure the success of city initiatives related to the creative economy, Cromwell said. The survey period will end sometime this month.

The city is particularly interested in obtaining federal funding that would enable Lowell to dispense dozens of micro-loans, ranging from $500 to $2,000 per person, Cromwell said. The loans could be used for such purposes as enabling an artist to pay for the creation of a sophisticated website to market his or her work.

People who fill out the anonymous survey are also encouraged to provide information that will become part of the city’s “Creative Industry Database.” The database, according to the city’s website, is designed to provide “a quick, ‘one-stop shop’ for consumers to connect to Lowell’s creative industry.”