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Greater Columbus Arts Council Joins Americans for the Arts’ National Economic Impact Study

in Press Releases December 9, 2015 3 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Arts Mean Business. That is the message the Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) wants the community to understand as it announces its participation in the Arts & Economic Prosperity® 5, a national study measuring the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences.

The research study is being conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s nonprofit organization advancing the arts and arts education. It is the fifth study over the past 20 years to measure the impact of arts spending on local jobs, income paid to local residents, and revenue generated to local and state governments.

As one of nearly 300 study partners across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the Arts Council will collect detailed financial data about central Ohio nonprofit arts and culture organizations such as theater and dance companies, museums, festivals, and arts education organizations.

“Many people don’t think of nonprofit arts organizations as businesses,” said Michael Gonsiorowski, regional president of PNC Bank. “This study will make clear that the arts are a formidable industry in our community—employing people locally, purchasing goods and services from local merchants, and helping to drive tourism and economic development.”

The Arts Council will also collect surveys from attendees at arts events using a short, anonymous questionnaire that asks how much money they spent on items such as meals, parking and transportation, and retail shopping specifically as a result of attending the event.

Previous studies have shown that, nationally, the average attendee spends $24.60 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission. Those studies have also shown that, on average, 32 percent of arts attendees travel from outside the county in which the arts event took place, and that those cultural tourists typically spend nearly $40 per person—generating important revenue for local businesses and demonstrating how the arts drive revenue for other businesses in the community. The last study completed for Columbus was released in 2012 and revealed that nonprofit arts and cultural organizations generate $226 million in economic impact annually and support more than 8,500 jobs in the greater Columbus area.

Surveys will be collected throughout calendar year 2016. The results of the study will be released in June of 2017. Organizations who would like more information or are interested in participating should contact Ruby Harper, grants & services director, rharper@gcac.org or 614-221-8406.

“This study will show that when we support the arts in greater Columbus we are making an investment in an industry, one that supports jobs and generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, president of the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

According to Americans for the Arts’ most recent national study, the nonprofit arts industry generated $135.2 billion in total economic activity and supported 4.1 million full-time equivalent jobs during 2010, resulting in $22.3 billion in federal, state and local government revenues. The $135.2 billion total included $61.1 billion in spending by arts organizations and $74.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences on items such as meals, local transportation and overnight lodging. Complete details about the fiscal year 2010 study are available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.

“Our Arts & Economic Prosperity series demonstrates that the arts are an economic and employment powerhouse both locally and across the nation,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Leaders who care about community and economic vitality can feel good about choosing to invest in the arts. Nationally as well as locally, the arts mean business.”

Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study is supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. In addition, Americans for the Arts’ local and statewide study partners are contributing both time and a cost-sharing fee support to the study. For a full list of the nearly 300 Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study partners, visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/AEP5Partners.

About the Greater Columbus Arts Council:  Through vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the Greater Columbus Arts Council supports art and advances the culture of the region. A catalyst for excellence and innovation, the Arts Council funds exemplary artists and arts organizations and provides programs, events and services of public value that educate and engage all audiences in our community. The Arts Council thanks the City of Columbus and the Ohio Arts Council for their continued support.  www.gcac.org

CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org