Economic Impact Study of the Nonprofit Arts & Culture Industry
Adopted at the 85th Annual Meeting in 2017
WHEREAS, Americans for the Arts, in partnership with The United States Conference of Mayors, conducted the fifth national economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in 341 communities, regions, and states representing every state in the United States; and
WHEREAS, it was found that the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.3 billion in economic activity annually, which supports 4.6 million U.S. jobs in communities ranging from large urban to small rural; and
WHEREAS, the nonprofit arts and culture industry annually returns $13.0 billion in federal income taxes, $7.7 billion in state government revenue and $6.9 billion in local government revenue, for a total of $27.5 billion in government revenue; and
WHEREAS, this new Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 study collected extensive survey data from 14,439 nonprofit and governmental arts and cultural organizations and 212,691 of their attendees; and
WHEREAS, data collected from the 212,691 attendees at a range of events reveal an average spending of $31.47 per person, per event?'in addition to the cost of admission?'generating $102.5 billion of valuable revenue for local merchants and their communities annually; and
WHEREAS, 34 percent of audience attendees are non-local?'living outside of the county in which the arts event took place?'and spend more than twice that of their local counterparts: $47.57 vs. $23.44 per person, per event; and
WHEREAS, findings from Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 study reveal that America's nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.3 billion in economic activity every year?'$63.8 billion in spending by arts and cultural organizations and an additional $102.5 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences?'resulting in a significant benefit to the nation's economy:
- total Expenditures: $166.3 billion
- Full-Time Jobs: 4.6 million jobs
- Household income: $96.1 billion
- Local Government Revenue: $6.9 billion
- State Government Revenue: $7.7 billion
- Federal Income Tax Revenue: $13.0 billion
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the comprehensive research conclusions of the Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 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.