Photo Credit: Paint Louis 2025 | paintlouis.com
A new study conducted in partnership with Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC), provides an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of 100 young Black creatives in the St. Louis region.
Young Black Creatives in St. Louis: A Qualitative Study of Their Aspirations, Networks, And Engagement with the Regional Arts Ecosystem, or Young Black Creatives study was designed to complement the 2023 study led by RAC in partnership with research firm Wolf Brown, Creatives Count, that expanded on the 2013 study, Artists Count, broadening the definition of creatives and expanding research on out how artists experienced St. Louis.
Over the summer of 2024, Dr. Jong Bum Kwon, Mk Sadiq, Research and Evolution Lead at the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, with support from Gregory Maurice, interviewed 100 Black creatives to learn about their experiences in St. Louis.
Utilizing those life and work history interviews, Dr. Jong Bum Kwon found three major themes also identified in the Creatives Count study: entrepreneurship, grants and creative networks.
Among the 100 creatives interviewed, 80% of participants identified as entrepreneurs, while only 21% had applied for grants. The study also found that creative networks were vital to participants’ success, but largely racially homogeneous and often disconnected from the region’s established arts institutions.
“For me, as a poet and sociologist, I found Dr. Kwon’s contribution to our understanding of the Black artists and creatives in St. Louis compelling. In that way, St. Louis has long had Black creatives dating back to Elizabeth Keckley during the antebellum period,” said Mk Sadiq, RAC Research and Evaluation Lead. “Black artists who sang, danced, painted and performed music were mentioned in news articles in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. Yet with these deep roots in the culture of St. Louis, Dr. Kwon’s research reveals that there has been little harvest for Black artists and creatives with limited institutional support to foster growth.”
The study’s findings provide a deeper look at the experiences, aspirations and challenges shaping the lives and careers of young Black creatives in the St. Louis region. By focusing on personal experiences, the study adds context to existing research and creates a stronger foundation for continued study of the region’s creative ecosystem.
A note from Dr. Jong Bum Kwon:
“My deepest thanks go to the Black creatives who shared their time, insight, and personal stories with me. This project could only exist because of their generosity, their spirit, and their faith in me. I owe them more than I can express, and I hope I’ve honored their trust in some small measure.”
Click the report graphic below to view or download.
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