Want the Arts? Keep the College Grads....

Want to boost the arts? See this tasty article from The Daily Yonder (courtesy the voraciously reading and darned good-looking Prairie Roots). Quote of the day:

"The single characteristic most strongly associated with rural arts magnets in 1990 and 2000 was the ability to retain college-educated workers." [Timothy R. Wojan, Dayton M. Lambert, and David A. McGranahan, “The Emergence of Rural Artistic Havens: A First Look,” Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 36:1, April 2007. Quoted in Julie Ardery, "Country Creatives: When Artists Go Rural," The Daily Yonder, 2007.11.20.]

Boosting the economy and keeping our post-baby-boom population from sinking are reason enough to give our college grads reasons to stay here. But keeping our most highly educated citizens will also enhance our ability to draw artists and arts lovers, who are key to building a truly thriving, attractive community.