“Delaware is currently losing the race for the Creative Economy. While we lead the region in tax-free shopping, we rank 50th in the nation for arts-related GDP. This ‘Cultural Vacuum’ is the primary reason our highest-earning talent (ages 25–40) crosses the border to Philadelphia and DC to spend their disposable income, buy their first homes, and start their families.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ALEX PIRES
WHY THE ARTS ARE IMPORTANT IN BUSINESS:
“Doing Your Fair Share to Build a Creative Community”
Alex Pires is a well-established lawyer, whose civil rights cases resulted in $4 billion in recoveries for minorities. He is President of Highway One Companies an entertainment and arts brand he founded in 1989 that includes Dewey Beach’s Rusty Rudder, Bottle & Cork, Northbeach, Jimmy’s and Highway One Pictures which has made and invested in films and theatre. Mr Pires is also Chair/CEO of Community Bank Delaware, which donates 10% of its profits annually to the arts and charities in Delaware.
THE DELAWARE ECONOMIC LEAK
- Workforce Exodus: Delaware talent (ages 25–40) migrates to neighboring states prioritizing the “vibrant culture” 82% of professionals demand.
- Real Estate Penalty: Delaware neighborhoods without creative hubs see property values appreciate 20% slower than established Cultural Districts.
- Tax Base Leakage: Lacking local arts, Delaware’s $43.45 average secondary spend per attendee is lost to Philadelphia and DC.
- Recruitment Costs: Delaware corporations pay higher “location premiums” to attract elite talent to culturally underdeveloped areas.
- Intergenerational Loss: Families relocate for robust creative infrastructures, taking decades of Delaware tax revenue and potential with them.
- Price vs. Place: Delaware wins one-time tax-free transactions but loses $2,500+ in annual per-capita spending to vibrant neighbors.
THE HOSTS:
DONNA DUFFY
GORDON DELGIORNOArt Means Business
It’s not just a luxury, it’s a necessity
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