The Arts and Creative Economy: Understanding its Value to Orleans
Held on Thursday, June 11, 2026 5:00 pm– 7:00 pm
To watch the video click here

As a popular vacation spot and retail hub for the Lower Cape, the creative is a key attraction that brings visitors to town and in many cases, are the local businesses that are so important to what makes Orleans, Orleans. This is not unique to our town. In fact, cities across the country have benefitted from unearthing and highlighting the importance of the arts – visual, musical and theatrical – to their economic vitality.

At this Forum, Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research at Americans for the Arts, brought his decades of experience detailing the economic impact of the arts to local communities. In addition, works of local artists were showcased and music was provided by Fred Fried and other local performers to celebrate the contributions of the local creative economy.

The OCF held its annual meeting as part of the evening.

Randy supplied some light reading for those interested:

• Americans Speak out about the Arts in 2023
• 10 Reasons to Support the Arts in Barnstable County in 2026