A new survey highlights the growing importance of artists to the U.S. economy. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, nearly 2 million Americans are now employed as artists. As workforces go, that’s about double the size of the Army.

It is no easy life. On average, artists earn less than other professionals with the same level of education. (The median income for dancers is a measly $20,000 a year.) About 13 percent say they hold a second job. Yet the arts pour cash into the economy while enriching the culture. In fact, “the creative economy” has become a new buzz phrase, as state and local governments seek to capitalize on cultural activity. Artists are often credited with reviving decrepit neighborhoods. They also seem to lure a more skilled, creative class to areas where they work.

Perhaps because of the Rhode Island School of Design’s high profile, the Ocean State is commonly thought to be teeming with artists. Well, that’s been exaggerated. The largest numbers of artists are in California and New York. On a per-capita basis, New York has the most, and California is second. Massachusetts comes in 3rd, with Rhode Island placing a fairly distant 12th. (The rankings come from Census figures for 2000.)

It is notoriously difficult to classify (and hence count) artists. A report from the advocacy group Americans for the Arts found 13,000 Rhode Islanders employed in arts-related businesses last year, using data gathered by Dun & Bradstreet. The NEA numbers tend to be smaller. Disappointingly, the agency found that the number of Rhode Island artists had dropped 5.7 percent between 2000 and the years 2003-05, from 8,240 to just 7,770.

As regions go, New England is a strong leader in the arts, particularly in design, a broad category that embraces fashion, floral and interior design, among other things. In design, Rhode Island ranks third per capita, behind Massachusetts (first) and Connecticut (second). But the Ocean State is not even in the top 15 when it comes to fine artists, art directors and animators, three other design sub-categories.

The strong showing by Massachusetts is probably no accident. A new commitment to the arts seems to have gathered force. The Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston, just announced it had reached the $500 million fund-raising goal tied to its planned expansion. No other arts organization in the state has ever come close.

In addition, early last month, Governor Patrick announced a new state position, “creative-economy” director, to be filled by Jason S. Schupbach. His job is to encourage creative enterprises and thereby promote economic development.

Rhode Island should generally avoid directly supporting chosen industries. But officials should keep a close eye on how the arts affect the state’s economy, as well as on any lessons to be learned from the Bay State. Rhode Islanders already value the arts; if called upon, they are bound to be creative in keeping them afloat.