STUDY SHOWS NEARLY $15 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND 534 JOBS ARE GENERATED ANNUALLY BY THE NONPROFIT ARTS AND CULTURE INDUSTRY IN METROPOLITAN ERIE, PA

Revealing the Nonprofit Arts Industry as a Formidable Business and Economic Driver for the Erie region

Erie , PA — July 9, 2007 — The Arts Council of Erie announced today the results of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry in Metropolitan Erie. These local results were compiled as part of the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States. Entitled Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the study was conducted in 156 communities and regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multi-county regions, and 5 states) including Erie. The Arts Council of Erie helped to facilitate the gathering of the detailed economic data from 24 arts organizations that were among 6,080 local arts organizations surveyed nationwide. Americans for the Arts, which conducted the national study, is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.

The local data reveals that Metropolitan Erie’s nonprofit arts industry generates $14.9 million in economic activity annually, including:

• 534 full-time equivalent jobs
• $8,602,000 in resident household income
• $624,000 in local government tax revenues
• $746,000 in state government tax revenues

“The results of this study verify what we’ve been saying all along,” noted Charlotte Mashyna, Arts Council executive director. “In addition to improving the quality of life, the arts are incredibly valuable to Erie’s economy.”

The $14.9 million total includes $8,213,973 in spending by arts organizations and $6,688,309 in event-related spending by arts audiences, excluding the cost of admission. The $6,688,309 in event-related spending by arts audiences reflects an average of $15.25 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments, or other similar costs—with non-local attendees spending nearly twice as much as local attendees ($24.66 compared to $13.42).

Nationally, according to Americans for the Arts report, the nonprofit arts industry generates 5.7 million jobs and $166.2 billion in total economic activity every year, resulting in $29.6 billion in federal, state, and local government revenues. The $166.2 billion total includes $63.1 billion in spending by arts organizations and $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences. The total economic activity has a significant national impact, generating the following:

• 5.7 million full-time equivalent jobs
• $104.2 billion in resident household income
• $7.9 billion in local government tax revenues
• $9.1 billion in state government tax revenues
• $12.6 billion in federal government tax revenues

“This study is a myth buster,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Most Americans understand that the arts improve our quality of life. This study demonstrates that the arts are an industry that stimulates the economy in cities and towns across the country. A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive.”

The nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry has grown steadily since the first analysis by Americans for the Arts in 1992, expanding at a rate greater than inflation. Between the second study conducted in 2000 and 2005, spending by organizations and their audiences grew 24 percent, from $134 billion to $166.2 billion in total economic activity. In 2001, the Arts & Economic Prosperity II study showed that the arts had an impact on the Erie community of $11.1 million. The results of the 2006 study show that the impact of the arts continues to grow, with the local economic impact increasing by 25 percent.

The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study shows that nonprofits arts support more jobs than accountants and auditors, public safety officers, and even lawyers, and just slightly fewer than elementary school teachers. Spending by nonprofit arts andculture organizations provide rewarding employment for more than just artists, curators, and musicians but they also directly support builders, plumbers, accountants, printers, and an array of occupations.

In addition, the study reveals that the nonprofit arts industry is the cornerstone of tourism. The $103.1 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences reflects an average of $27.79 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs,refreshments, or other similar costs—with non-local attendees spending twice as much as local attendees ($40.19 vs. $19.53). When a community attracts cultural tourists, it harnesses significant economic rewards.

The results of the economic impact of the arts for each of the 116 city and county participants, as well as comparative data for the 24 communities that participated in both the 2002 and current study are available at here.

 The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study was conducted by Americans for the Arts and supported by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts’ local and statewide project partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. Local support for Arts & Economic Prosperity III was provided by the Erie Arts Endowment of the Arts Council of Erie and the PA Council on the Arts. The full text of the report is available here.

New Grants Now Available!

Erie Arts Endowment grants have been replaced by new Arts Council of Erie Project grants. Applications will only be accepted once a year. Deadline for submission is August 31, 2007!

There will be no August 15 Endowment grant cycle, and grant applications will no longer be accepted in February.

Arts Council NOW HIRING!

The Arts Council has an opening for Office Administrator, and is reviewing applications immediately. Read more...

Preserving Our Regional Assets:

Gaming revenue could stabilize arts and culture in Erie County.Voice your support! Read more...