Artists Join Jobs March

Online, October 2, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Saving jobs in every creative community in America is the message carried to Washington today by artists and arts advocates from the Mid-Atlantic region who are assembling for the March for Jobs.
"Shop Local - Buy Handmade," and "It's Not My Hobby, It's My Job!" are slogans on their hand-lettered placards. "'Grow the creative economy' is our theme," says Wendy Rosen, a national arts advocate and organizer of a group of art-industry marchers. Supporting artist studios and small shops that carry local and handmade items is the best way to help the local economy, and rebuild communities for a more sustainable future, she says.
"Artists, professional artisans and art dealers are likely
self-employed or operating small family-based businesses with fewer than three employees," Rosen says. "They toil in a fragile place where slumps in the economy hit them first, and hardest. Yet we know that many small towns have become top arts destinations as a result of the leadership roles taken by artists, who have built creative communities to attract educated and affluent cultural tourists."
"We need Washington to understand the importance of Main Street and to support economic development initiatives that make opportunities for artists' businesses," Rosen says. "We're cheering about the bipartisan progress made on legislation that will free up capital for community banks so they can lend to small business owners. But Congress must go further, and rewrite the government's definition of 'small business' so that these artisans and art dealers can be included and can benefit."
"Right now, jobs are being created by the smallest of small businesses --not those with a government-defined size of up to 500 employees, but those with fewer than 25 employees," Rosen says. "When the Small Business Administration is focused on the needs of the smallest - the art entrepreneurs and the studios that are micro-manufacturers - then we'll see a different type of economic development model, one that restores beautiful Main Streets and builds communities."
Rosen is founder of the American Made Alliance, a nonprofit trade association that advocates on behalf of makers and retailers of handmade artisan products. Her company, The Rosen Group, publishes AmericanStyle magazine, for cultural tourists and art collectors. Marching with her today are artists, gallery owners, artist guild members, museum patrons and other art enthusiasts and advocates. They will assemble at 10 a.m. in front of the Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., at 17th Street, Washington, D.C. 20006.

Contacts: Wendy Rosen, American Made Alliance, wendy@rosengrp.com, 800-432-7238, ext. 226. Jean Thompson,jeant@rosengrp.com,443-845-6130.