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WHEREAS, Americans for the Arts conducted a benchmark study of the national economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry in 33 communities across the United States in 1993; and WHEREAS, it was found that the nonprofit arts industry generates $36.8 billion annually in economic activity and supports 1.3 million jobs -- from large urban to small rural communities and that the nonprofit arts industry annually returns $3.4 billion in federal income taxes, $1.2 billion in state government revenue and $790 million in local government revenue; and WHEREAS, Americans for the Arts will release an updated national economic impact study in June 2002, entitled, The Arts and Economic Prosperity, measuring both the direct economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry in 85 communities as well as the indirect economic impact of these cultural organization's related audience expenditures; and WHEREAS, this new Arts and Economic Prosperity study collected extensive survey data from more than 2,700 arts organizations and 110,000 audience attendees; and WHEREAS, findings from the Arts and Economic Prosperity study reveal that America's nonprofit arts industry generates $134 billion in economic activity every year--$53 billion in spending by arts organizations and an additional $80 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences. This economic activity results in a significant impact on the nation's economy:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the United States Conference of Mayors supports the findings of the Arts and Economic Prosperity study and urges mayors across the country to invest in nonprofit arts organizations through their local arts agencies as a catalyst to generate economic impact, stimulate business development, spur urban renewal, attract tourists and area residents to community activities; and to improve the overall quality of life in America's cities. |