A Joint Venture of
&
Measuring the Impact of Creativity
Creative Measures helps arts and cultural organizations better understand, communicate, and strengthen the economic and community impact of their work through meaningful, culturally responsive data.
Data That Tells the Whole Story
Creative Measures is an impact-measurement initiative designed to help arts and cultural organizations understand and communicate their full value — economic, social, and cultural — to the stakeholders and communities they serve.
Creative Measures uses a holistic methodology for arts-specific contexts, combining qualitative and quantitative data with community-centered storytelling.
The result is a framework that honors the complexity of creative work while producing evidence that funders, policymakers, and community members can use to support and sustain it.
The Arts Create Value. The Data Should Show It.
Measure what traditional metrics may miss.
Tell stronger community-centered stories.
Build evidence that supports sustainability, investment, & growth.
Arts and cultural organizations contribute far beyond their programming — generating economic activity, strengthening social cohesion, and anchoring neighborhood identity. Yet traditional metrics often fail to capture this broader impact. We are currently partnering with Arts Alliance: combining deep expertise in arts strategy, community engagement, data, and statewide advocacy.
Creative Measures helps you to:
OUR MISSION
To provide arts and cultural organizations with accessible, culturally responsive tools that measure and communicate the full breadth of their community impact — empowering them to advocate for resources, demonstrate value, and deepen engagement.
OUR VISION
A future where every arts and cultural organization — regardless of size, budget, or institutional access — has the evidence and language to show the world what their work makes possible.
From Data to Understanding
COLLECT
Gather economic, social, and cultural data through surveys, interviews, financial records, and community input — centering the voices of those closest to the work.
MEASURE
Apply a culturally responsive valuation framework that accounts for both quantitative outputs and qualitative community impact.
COMMUNICATE
Deliver clear, compelling reports and storytelling tools that organizations can use with funders, policymakers, media, and their own communities.
UNDERSTAND
Contextualize findings within the community's own narrative — translating numbers into meaning and surfacing patterns that inform strategy.
Starting Hyperlocal
Creative Measures begins on Chicago's Southwest, South, Far Southwest, and Far Southeast sides — neighborhoods rich in cultural production but historically under-resourced in data infrastructure. By starting hyperlocal, we build trust, refine our tools, and generate proof of concept for broader expansion.
Launching Our Model Across Illinois
Creative Measures is hitting the road with our partners at Arts Alliance Illinois, for the Illinois Creative Future Roadshow, with more than 20 stops bringing communities together to help shape an action plan for investing in Illinois’ creative future.
These interactive working sessions will use new insights from the Creative Economy of Illinois: Impact and Assets reports to spark conversation, identify priorities, and build ideas for strengthening Illinois’ creative economy.
Turning Insights Into Action
Bustling Spaces and Maekeen Room Consulting bring complementary expertise in organizational strategy, community engagement, and data interpretation — ensuring that measurement leads to meaningful action.
-
Strengthening internal systems, governance, and operational capacity to support sustainable growth.
-
Aligning mission, programs, and resources through clear strategic frameworks and planning processes.
-
Translating raw findings into actionable insights and compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
-
Designing and leading participatory sessions that build shared understanding, alignment, and momentum.
-
Hands-on guidance to help organizations move from insight to execution with confidence and clarity.
Let's Measure What Creativity Makes Possible.
We're connecting with arts organizations, community partners, researchers, advocates, and anyone who believes that creativity deserves better evidence and stronger stories. Let's build this together.
Henry Wishcamper Evin Marie
Founder | Bustling Spaces Founder | Maekeen Room