Why is this important?
Art and culture are integral to a regional innovation system.  Participation in arts and cultural activities spurs creativity and increases exposure to diverse people, ideas and perspectives.  Creative expression is also important to an economy based on innovation.  How well the region supports its arts and cultural organizations—especially in relation to household income—is an important measure of overall vitality.  A vital arts community is also a factor in a region’s attraction and retention of talent.

How are we doing? 
The Boho Index illustrates the concentration of artists and performers in a community and represents the number of artists and entertainers per 100,000 residents.  In 2009, Long Island’s Boho Index was 979, a two percent decrease from 2007 and little change from 2005.  Regions with higher scores on the Boho Index in 2009 include:  Greater Washington D.C. (1,639), Boston (1,237), San Diego (1,131), and Silicon Valley (1,113).

Long Island is currently home to over 5,000 arts and entertainment establishments.  These firms and organizations increased in number by 57 percent from 1995 to 2009 and by two percent just from 2008 to 2009.  Golf courses, skiing facilities, fitness centers and other facilities are grouped together under “Other Amusement and Recreation” and combined, make up 43 percent of all establishments and expanded by four percent from 2008 to 2009. There are 970 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers residing on Long Island, and their numbers have grown by 25 percent over the long term and by one percent most recently.  Performing Arts establishments have reported the most robust growth over the long term, expanding 235 percent from 1995 to 2009 and by seven percent recently.  Representing less than one percent of the total, the strongest growth in the most recent year has been in gambling establishments which increased in number by 14 percent.