Economic Growth Through Art

I found an interesting article recently, Texas study stresses economic progress through art:

http://smmercury.com/archives/17568

This article is about how towns in Texas are finding economic growth through the reinvigoration of the arts. One interesting point that the article repeats through out is how the state of Texas does not do very much to support the arts. Texas is ranked 46th in state funding for the arts. Despite this statistic the Texas Commission on the Arts took a look at five arts-driven economies and how their economies have been stimulated by a growth in their arts community. It sounds like Texas has a long way to go to rebuild their arts communities, but the good news is it is working, despite the lack of state funding.