The words “creative” and “policy” might seem like an unlikely pair. But Matt Wordell, a public policy and administration PhD student, studies how policymaking can support Idaho’s creative economy. Wordell began his career in the fine arts, studying photography, painting and filmmaking. After two years working in film production in Los Angeles, Matt returned to Idaho to study anthropology at Boise State. He also launched a photography and design company that funded his education and opened doors to new creative opportunities. He toured with bands, filmed volcanology documentaries across the world and established a photography program for Boise’s Treefort Music Festival. Through his work with Treefort, Matt met Aaron Rodriguez, and together they founded Visionkit Studio, a video production and photography company.
Local vision, local talent
At the center of Wordell’s work is a focus on keeping local creative talent here in Idaho. While expanding work at Visionkit, he became involved with a local revitalization effort called the Garden City Placemaking Fund, where he met Amanda Ashley, Boise State’s Dr. Thomas and Marilyn Beck Endowed Professor in the Arts. Ashley encouraged Wordell to expand his impact through the PhD program.
“I had no intention of getting back into academia,” Wordell said. “It was not on my list, but Amanda introduced me to creative economy and placemaking policy — ways to empower communities to build and grow meaningful spaces.”
Once accepted to the program, Wordell was connected with Boise State’s Idaho Policy Institute, where he began working as a student researcher alongside faculty who shared his interests. His creative background made him a natural fit for applied research projects in the arts, culture and economic development, eventually evolving into his current work, Amplifying Impact, a statewide music census in partnership with Music Idaho and funded by a National Science Foundation TRANSFORM Grant. Through a survey and targeted focus groups, the project is an effort to better understand Idaho’s music ecosystem and creative economy. “We want to understand: who’s here, what is the impact of Idaho’s music economy, and is it sustainable?” he said. “We want not just the data, but the stories behind it.”
Investing in Idaho
For Wordell, helping expand and support the creative community in Idaho is what makes his research, doctoral studies and creative work so meaningful. “If everyone who had a dream of pursuing a creative career left Boise to chase it elsewhere, we’d be left with a place that didn’t have as much visionary leadership or direction,” he said. “Creatives here can do high-level work while maintaining a culture and community that aligns with the values people here care about.”