In a list of top U.S. cities ranked as best bets for real estate investment, BusinessWeek.com named Carson City third behind Los Angeles and Santa Fe on a list of 10 best places for artists in America.
Because investors view a thriving arts community as a harbinger of upside development, Carson City finds itself in the catbird seat.
The feature, Bohemian Today, High-Rent Tomorrow, reports on healthy real estate returns in cities influenced by artists and the creative class.
"Carson City has always valued its arts and culture community. The community's love of the Brewrey Arts Center, Western Nevada Musical Theater, the Carson City Symphony, the Capital City Arts Initiative and the Sierra Nevada Ballet are prime examples," said Joe McCarthy, Director of Carson City's Office of Business Development.
Appreciating the arts offers more than intrinsic rewards, says McCarthy. "There's more to it than art appreciation. Embracing arts and culture creates a healthy economic mix."
Alan Harvey, chairman of the recently formed Carson City Arts and Culture Coalition, says, "Arts and culture lift a community's sense of self and level of sophistication; which results in direct economic benefit to the business sectors and community at large."
The top 10 rankings were determined via a variety of economic indicators including, ratio of artistic venues to population, diversity and concentration of museums, philharmonic orchestras, dance companies, theater troupes, library resources and college arts programs.
