Dec 13
An abstract image with smaller lights moving toward the larger light. Text reads: Welcome, 2018! Cheers to a year of data

New Year, More CVSuite™

Creative Vitality™ Suite has been busy this year updating the tool and improving your user experience. We added new data, including the most recent 2016 data; facilitated webinars on important creative economy topics; and welcomed new staff to our team! Thank you for joining us as we continue to grow and improve the Creative Vitality Suite!

2017 Highlights

A graph moving up with text under it that reads 2016 data; a paper on top of a paper with Copy and Paste ZIP Codes and a group of people with race and ethnicity data text under it.

New Data, New Features, Same Great Tool

  • Recently, CVSuite added 2016 data, which is the most current data available in the creative economy. Users of the tool have access to data from 2011 to 2016.
  • Users can create ZIP Code regions faster with our new validation tool. To examine this new capability, visit the Region Selection area in CVSuite.
  • Ethnicity and race data were added to the CVSuite tool. CVSuite now provides a breakdown of race and ethnicity data in three different ways for each region: a) by overall population b) by occupation jobs and c) by industry jobs.

CVSuite has the Answers

  • CVSuite held four webinars in 2017. If you missed any of them, you can watch them in their entirety at the links below:

Text that reads: Diversify the Workforce. Data Diversity and Inclusion in the nonprofit sector. View the Webinar by clicking the image. Images of Salvador Acevedo and Frances Kunreuther           Text that reads establish impact with data. To view the webinar click on the image. Images of Matthew Harris and Brian Points. Text that reads principles of persuasive argumentation. Image links to the webinar blog post. Headshots of Anthony Radich and Damien SMith Pfister.        Text that reads navigating the political landscape. Image links to the blog post that has this webinar. Headshots of Sofia Klatzker and Senator Ben Allen.

  • In an effort to help those familiar — and not so familiar–with the tool learn more about the data available inthe CVSuite, we began the Data Dive blog series. The most recent blog discusses how users of the tool can access and deploy race and ethnicity data for a variety of analyses.
  • Finally, the CVSuite team welcomed the addition of Business Manager, Erica Antioco Barclay.

Welcome, 2018!

The Creative Vitality Suite is happy to welcome 2018 and share what’s next for the tool. Here are some things to look for:

  • CVSuite continuously updates the data within the tool. The next update and refinement of the data will occur in the spring of 2018.
  • Our next webinar will focus on ways to measure the economic benefits of creative districts, with special guests Colorado Creative Industries Executive Director Margaret Hunt and ArtsWA Executive Director Karen Hanan. This webinar will take place in February.
  • Soon after the launch of the creative districts webinar, CVSuite will share a toolkit designed for states with certified creative districts (and business improvement districts) in rural areas. This toolkit will help these areas evaluate the economic impact of their region from start to finish.

The Creative Vitality Suite is constantly evolving and improving based on your feedback. We have some exciting things coming in the new year. Let’s welcome 2018–a year of data!

Image of the CVSuite team, from left to right: Adam Sestokas, Erica Antioco Barclay, Natalie Villa, Susan Gillespie and Paul Nguyen standing infront of a holiday star.

A Suite Gift for You

CVSuite is offering FREE Creative Vitality Index rankings across all major metro areas in the United States! To obtain your free ranking visit cvsuite.org today.
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For more information about CVSuite or to request a demo, contact us directly at cvsuite@westaf.org.

About The Author

Natalie Villa is a project manager who manages and oversees CVSuite contracting and invoicing services, while also working across programs to assist with communication within the CVSuite team. Outside of her work with CVSuite, Natalie acts as the technical project lead for ZAPP and CaFE. Natalie leads the production of instructional videos for many of WESTAF’s art and technology projects. Natalie earned a bachelor’s degree in film and television at the University of Colorado Denver.