Arts and Economic Prosperity

According to the National Report on the Arts and Economic Prosperity, the non-profit arts industry generated $166.3 billion of economic activity in 2015—$63.8 billion in spending by arts and cultural organizations and an additional $102.5 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences. This activity supported 4.6 million jobs and generated $27.5 billion in revenue to local, state, and federal governments.

The figures above do no include the numbers of the huge commercial for-profit arts industry in the U.S. Commercial art is the art of creative services, referring to art created for commercial purposes, primarily advertising or entertainment. Commercial art uses a variety of platforms (magazines, websites, apps, television, movies, etc.) for viewers with the intent of promoting sale and interest of products, services, and ideas. 

 

Arts and cultural organizations are valued members of the business community. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services from within the community, are members of their Chambers of Commerce, and promote their regions.

By every measure, the results are impressive. Numerous studies have now put to rest the misconception that communities support arts and culture at the expense of local economic development. In fact, communities are investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, inspires innovation, and is a cornerstone for tourism, education, entertainment, design, and many other industries. These reports show conclusively that, locally as well as nationally, the arts mean business!

Arts and cultural organizations provide rewarding employment for more than just artists, curators, and musicians. They also directly support builders, plumbers, accountants, printers, and an array of occupations spanning many industries.

Americans for the Arts conducted the ‘Arts & Economic Prosperity Version 5.0’ to document the economic impact of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. Detailed expenditure data was collected from 14,439 arts and cultural organizations and 212,691 of their attendees.