Arts and culture on the rise in Philly, report finds

The arts are big in Philly - and they're still growing.

A new report from the city's office of arts and culture shows that the city is above average when it comes to spending and employment in the arts.

"This report, of course, highlights what many of us in the room already know: Philadelphia is the home to a thriving, growing creative sector," said Mayor Nutter.

The report looks at the city's "creative vitality index," a score that weighs jobs, spending and revenue. For 2008, Philly's score was 1.7, higher than the national average of 1.0.

The city has 17,699 people employed in the arts, and the creative sector is growing faster here than in many other areas.

Although Nutter praised the city's creative industries, he opened his remarks with plaudits for the Eagles.

"Let me talk about a little bit of artistic creativity that we saw [Sunday]," Nutter said of the Eagles' miraculous 38-31 come-from-behind win over the New York Giants. "That was poetry in motion [Sunday]."

Nutter also hailed Cliff Lee's return to the Phillies and touted the North Philly Blackhawks and Frankford Chargers, who recently won Pop Warner football titles.

But he wrapped up with comments about how Philly's art scene is the next big thing.

"We're actually stars in this city," he said. "And the region, the state, the country and the world is just getting to know Philadelphia.

"This is the hot city in America," Nutter said.

Nutter reinstated the city's office of arts and culture when he took office and hired Chief Cultural Officer Gary Steuer.