Big Sean Supports Jocelyn Benson for Governor, Discusses Investments in Michigan’s Creative Economy

“Life changing” - Big Sean on having a governor who will invest in arts and culture in Detroit

On Friday, Secretary of State and Democratic nominee for Governor Jocelyn Benson and lifelong Detroit artist Big Sean met with digital creators, and local business leaders to discuss the importance of investing in the arts and bolstering Michigan’s creative economy. 

Jocelyn is laser-focused on driving down costs and building our economy. That’s why, as governor, she will diversify our economy — investing in growing industries like the arts, tourism, and sports. Jocelyn will use every tool in her toolbox to make Michigan the economic engine of the Midwest, and she’ll start by investing in the talent we have right here in Michigan.

In case you missed it…

On the airwaves: 

WDIV — Detroit, MI: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson spent her Friday in the motor city. She was joined by Detroit-born artist and entrepreneur Big Sean for a conversation about Michigan's creative economy. The discussion focused on investing in the arts, supporting creative entrepreneurs, and creating more opportunities for people across the state. Benson says she'll do so by creating a new state department: “The department I want to create on arts, culture, tourism and sports will think strategically about how to build those economies, how to ensure they are generating wealth for communities around the state, raising wages to keep part of our campaign economic growth. And I think this is one of the most significant ways we can diversify our economy and really take advantage of a lot of the untapped talent and resources we have in this city and this state.”

In print: 

Michigan Chronicle: Benson Pledges Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Sports Office at Detroit Roundtable with Big Sean

[Biba Adams, 9/28/26] 

With that in mind, gubernatorial candidate and current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joined rapper Big Sean and other members of Detroit’s creative community for a roundtable event where the importance of ownership, teaching the arts, and financial literacy for creatives will become a priority soon.

“I am eager to partner with all of you because I know we’re in a very unique time,” Benson told the intimate crowd at Irwin House Gallery. “We’re in a time where we have lost our ability to see each other, and that divisiveness is infecting not just our politics, but societies all around the state, and it’s holding us all back. And art is the way out.”

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Benson said that she envisions making Michigan the creative capital of the nation. She added, “Arts are the way through creative culture, and the creative economy is how we grow our economy — investing in places that people then connecting with the artists who tell the stories of those places and change not just how Detroit is seen, but how Michigan is seen, and how the entire way of defining arts and culture could be seen in our nation.”

During the event, Benson also mentioned a goal to reinstate the statewide film production tax credit or incentive program which ended in 2015 after lawmakers felt that insufficient economic return. “As governor, I do want to bring those tax credits back to Michigan in a thoughtful, strategic way that doesn’t just compete with what other states are already doing, but surpasses them to ensure that we’re landing the best productions and the greatest economic opportunity right here in Michigan.”

She added, “With tax credits, also has to come investment in workforce development opportunities, investments in arts education, so that kids are learning the arts and having opportunities in school to continue their creative journey, and then take that into the industry, so that we’re not just bringing film production or other types of productions here, but we’re generating a workforce and infrastructure right here in Michigan, so that more people are getting jobs as more films are being made, and it generates economic growth and development statewide.”

[...]

The event was one of many where Benson has been speaking and promising statewide support for the city of Detroit should she win the governor’s seat over Republican John James. At an August 2026 event various Black officeholders, organizers, and supporters gathered at a crowded union hall on the city’s west side, where attendees included Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Rev. Horace Sheffield III, and Yusef Jackson, son of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

Michigan Public reported that at the event Benson said, “We talk about raising the minimum wage and doing the bare minimum. I want to do more than that. I want generations who’ve been left out of opportunities for economic wealth generation to be a part of that now so we can invest in small business ownership and other things to grow our economy, particularly for communities who’ve been left out of that opportunity for far too long.”

During Friday’s creative roundtable Benson said that she “believes strongly in the power of arts to create social change.  She added, “I believe when we look at the work we need to do to grow our economy, though the arts economy creates film content, celebrating our culture, celebrating who we are that also creates wealth as well in cities and throughout our state.”

MLive: Benson backs return of Michigan film tax credits at Detroit rapper Big Sean event

[Danielle James, 9/25/26]

As she campaigns for governor, Secretary of State Benson is making tourism and creative industries part of her economic agenda. She said investments in film production could help make Michigan the “creative capital of the nation” and play a role in solving the state’s economic health issues.

Attendees said Sean wanted to host the panel to connect Benson with the artists and business leaders who are also seeking to expand Detroit and Michigan’s reach as a tourist hub.

To make it happen now, they said the industry needs more funding and fresh infrastructure, which Sean described as potentially “life-changing.”

“It has to be creativity because that’s the roots of our city,” Sean said during the Sept. 25 event. “Every industry that’s ever been successful here. The automotive industry, it was because Henry Ford was creative enough to come up with a plan, to come up with the work, the assembly line. He was creative enough to say, we should build the road.”

[...]

Benson said she met Sean earlier this year, after she reached out and asked his team for policy ideas.

“They gave an incredible presentation, their vision for creating infrastructure in Detroit (and) beyond, to create films, to produce music and to model what’s been done in other states that have really generated a lot of economic growth,” Benson said.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be at the top of every list,” she said.

“But we need a strategy to do it,” Benson added.

As part of that strategy, she reiterated calls for a state department to oversee arts, culture, tourism and sports, which she said could draw musicians, filmmakers and sporting events to the state.

If elected, Benson said she would create the department via executive order during her first month in office.

“You have my full support for making these moonshot ideas happen in our state budget, in our policies, in our priorities,” Benson said, adding, “We’re in a time where we have lost our ability to see each other, and that divisiveness is infecting ... society all around the state and it’s holding us back. Arts are the way out.”

[...]

Benson pitched an “outward-facing marketing campaign” geared towards the arts, giving the example of a Pennsylvania town that hosted Taylor Swift tour rehearsals and in doing so became a tourism destination.

“I think that everyone here is using all the resources they can to keep our arts economy strong,” Benson said. “What Detroit needs now is a massive, outward-facing marketing campaign to show the world what we have here.”

“Bring it home,” one attendee called out.

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