Wayne Arts Council part of national study of impact of arts on economy
By From staff reports
Published in News on January 23, 2011 1:50 AM
The Arts Council of Wayne County announced it has joined Arts & Economic Prosperity IVTM.
The research study, which is being conducted by Americans for the Arts, America's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, will evaluate the impact spending by nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences have on their local economies.
As one of 200 study partners across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the Arts Council of Wayne County will facilitate the gathering of detailed economic and event attendance data from nonprofit arts and culture organizations located throughout Wayne County.
In addition, the Arts Council of Wayne County will collaborate with the community's other arts organizations to collect surveys from at least 800 arts and culture attendees in Wayne County during 2011.
Arts & Economic Prosperity IV will allow the organization to evaluate the impact of the recession on the employment and government revenues that are generated by the nonprofit arts industry. Officials expect that the findings will demonstrate that the arts remain a formidable industry in spite of the country's recent economic challenges.
Customized findings for Wayne County will demonstrate the impact of spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences on the economy. Specifically, the study's results will include:
*The total dollars spent by Wayne County's nonprofit arts and culture organizations.
* The total dollars spent by audiences as a direct result of their attendance at arts and culture events in Wayne County.
*The number of full-time equivalent jobs supported by arts spending.
*The amount of resident, household income -- including salaries and wages -- generated by arts spending.
* The amount of local and state government tax revenues generated by arts spending.
"We are very excited to be working with the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation, the Paramount Theatre, Wayne County Development Alliance, and Mount Olive College on this project," said Sarah Merritt, executive director of the Arts Council of Wayne County.
According to Americans for the Arts most recent national study, the national nonprofit arts industry generated 5.7 million jobs and $166.2 billion in total economic activity during 2005, resulting in $29.6 billion in federal, state and local government revenues. The $166.2 billion total included $63.1 billion in spending by arts organizations and $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences on items such as meals, local transportation and overnight lodging. Complete details about the 2005 study are available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.
"Our Arts & Economic Prosperity studies demonstrate that the arts are a formidable industry that stimulates the economy in cities and towns across the county," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, in a statement. "A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive. Still, much has changed since our last study as a result of the economic downtown. Arts & Economic Prosperity IV will allow us to evaluate the impact the recession has had on employment and government revenues that are generated by the nonprofit arts industry."
Americans for the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study is supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. In addition, Americans for the Arts' local and statewide project partners are contributing both time and financial support to the study.
The Arts Council of Wayne County has been serving the community for 48 years. The organization is dedicated to ensuring the arts are thriving in our community.
For more information about the study or the local council, contact Sarah Merritt at sarah@artsinwayne.org or call (919)736-3300.