Skip to main content
Our Impact

Research

Past Grants Database

Search Arts Council grants from 2008 to the present by keyword, or filter your search by type of grant program, year or recipient, or search for grants in a specific financial range. Reports are available in two formats. Once you’ve obtained your desired search results, choose CSV (excel) or PDF to generate the report. View the database here. (Category: Research)

View the Database Here

Columbus Creative Industries Economic Contribution

This economic contribution analysis was commissioned by Ohio Citizens for the Arts, with regional arts partners across the state, including GCAC. The in-depth study, released in April 2022, looked at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative industries compared to other industries in the state. The study was conducted by Bowling Green State University’s Center for Regional Development and compared data from 2019 to 2020. The findings highlight a decline in creative industry employment of 41,000 jobs and a decline in economic output of more than $8.6 billion. On all indicators the decreases felt by the creative industries were significantly more severe when compared to other industries.

Learn More

Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 (2017)

Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 was produced by Americans for the Arts with data from 2015. The report provided evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture sector is a significant industry in the Greater Columbus Area—one that generates $412.3 million in total economic activity. This economic impact study sends a strong signal that when we support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but we also invest in the Greater Columbus Area’s economic well-being. (Full Report, 36 pages, 1.3M). Arts & Economic Prosperity one page summary for Central Ohio.

Calculate the economic impact of your organization here

Arts & Economic Prosperity III (2007)

Arts & Economic Prosperity III, conducted by the Americans for the Arts, provided compelling evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is a significant industry both nationally and in Greater Columbus. This report, using data from 2005, indicated that the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $330.39 million in local economic activity and supported 11,068 full-time equivalent jobs. (Category: Economic Impact)

download the executive summary for this report

Arts & Economic Prosperity IV (2012)

Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, conducted by the Americans for the Arts, provided data about the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Greater Columbus. Based on data from 2010, the report indicates the sector generated $226 million in local economic activity and supported 8,532 full time qeuivalennt jobs. (Category: Economic Impact)

download the executive summary for the Greater Columbus area report

Creative Industries Report: Business & Employment in the Arts (2017)

Every two years the Creative Industries: Business & Employment in the Arts report produced by Americans for the Arts provides a research-based approach to understanding the scope and economic importance of the both nonprofit and for profit creative industries in Franklin County. This report from 2017 (there was no report in 2019) found there were 2,707 arts-related businesses employing 16,358 people. (Category: Economic Impact).

Click here to view the report

Creative Industries Report for Franklin County (2015)

Every two years the Creative Industries: Business & Employment in the Arts report produced by Americans for the Arts provides a research-based approach to understanding the scope and economic importance of the both nonprofit and for profit creative industries in Franklin County. This report from 2015 found there were 2,730 arts-related businesses employing 13,714 people. (Category: Economic Impact)

Click here to view the report

Update on Public Funding Request (2012)

This report from the Arts Council was a major step in advocacy efforts to secure a new funding source for the arts in Columbus. it followed the release of the recommendations made by the Financial Review and Advisory Committee (FRAC), which set out to identify and explore options for increased investment in Columbus in funding for arts and culture, human services, and travel and tourism to support community economic development, the organizations which lead these efforts came together to provide support, research, and creative solutions to benefit all. The arts and cultural community, represented by GCAC and the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium (CCLC), supported increased financial investment in all three sectors as strength in one sector enhances strength in the others. (Categories: Advocacy and Sustainability)

Click here to view the report

A Community Report - The Arts (2011)

Produced by the Columbus Partnership and the Columbus Foundation this report was based on research between 2005-2010 and provides a concise summary of the direction and strategy for the future of arts in Columbus and the role the Arts Council should play. (Category: Sustainability)

Click here to view the report

Columbus Arts Market Sustainability Analysis (2011)

In March 2010, the Columbus Foundation retained AMS Planning & Research to conduct a sustainability analysis of the Columbus arts sector. The goal of this analysis was to explore two questions: 1. Is the breadth and depth of the cultural ecosystem in Columbus appropriate for a community of its size, composition and access to resources? 2. Are individual organizations within the region’s cultural ecosystem able to sustain themselves given the size, composition and resources of the market that is available to support them? This report, released in early 2011, contains the results of that research. (Categories: Sustainability and Marketing)

Click here to view the report

Report on the Future of the Arts in Columbus (2010)

WolfBrown, a consulting company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was engaged by the Greater Columbus Arts Council to complete work on a financial analysis of the arts sector in Columbus based on data provided by 36 arts organizations. Category: Sustainability)

Click here to view the report

Artspace Feasibility Report (2007)

Artspace, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to creating affordable arts spaces, took a look at the viability of a project in Columbus. (Category: Sustainability)

download the group’s feasibility report including recommendations for next steps

Columbus Creative Economy: Executive Summary and Full Report (2007)

In 2006, the City of Columbus appointed a steering committee to evaluate the Columbus arts and cultural sector. The resulting research, titled Creative Columbus: a Picture of the Creative Economy of Central Ohio was released in 2007. The report, developed for Columbus College of Art & Design by Community Research Partners, takes an in-depth look at central Ohio’s creative services sector (both for and nonprofit) to determine its size, characteristics, magnitude and direct economic value. Supporting funders of the project included the Columbus Foundation, Compete Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, Greater Columbus Arts Council, and The Ohio State University. (Category: Economic Impact)

Click here to download the full report

Arts and Culture in Columbus (2006)

Comprised of 16 organizations, including the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium (CCLC) was created early in 2006 to bring organization and voice to the city’s major cultural and artistic institutions, with a focus on policy and strategy in both the short term and over the long haul. : Arts and Culture in Columbus. (Category: Advocacy)

Click here to view the report

Audience Insight: Market Research Effort (2006)

In 2006, the Arts Council and 18 arts organization partners throughout the community conducted a data analysis with AMS Planning & Research Corp. to find out who participates in the arts in Columbus, who doesn’t, and where there’s room for growth. The research included a telephone survey of arts patrons and the general public to determine opinions of the Columbus arts and cultural scene. (Category: Marketing)

Click here to view the report

Building Creative Capital (2005)

Produced by Benefactor’s Counsel this economic impact report looked at the assets available to sustain robust arts and culture in Columbus. (Categories: Sustainability and Economic Impact)

Click here to view the report