Dallas’ Nonprofit Arts and Culture Industry Generates $891,170,549 in Economic Activity and Supports 33,554 Jobs Annually According to Americans for the Arts
Arts Industry Returns $97,232,000 in Revenue to Local and State Coffers
The nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $891,170,549 in annual economic activity in the Dallas—supporting 33,554 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $97,232,000 in local and state government revenues, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 national economic impact study. The most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.
Results show that nonprofit arts and culture organizations spent $631,469,325 during fiscal year 2015. This spending is far-reaching: organizations pay employees, purchase supplies, contract for services and acquire assets within their community. Those dollars, in turn, generated $856,249,000 in household income for local residents and $97,232,000 in local and state government revenues.
“These numbers show in a truly compelling way the economic return on investment that Dallas has made in our arts and how vital our industry is to the economic well-being of Dallas,” said Jennifer Scripps, director of cultural affairs for the City of Dallas. “We want everyone to be able to use these findings in their organizational advocacy and in the ways they tout our sector overall.”
Nationwide, the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 reveals that the nonprofit arts industry produces $166.3 billion in economic activity every year, resulting in $27.5 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues. In addition, it supports 4.6 million full-time equivalent jobs and generates $96.07 billion in household income.
“This study 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. “A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive and helps local communities become stronger and healthier places to live. 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.”
Arts Industry Boon for Local Businesses
In addition to spending by organizations, the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Dallas leverages $259,701,224 in event-related spending by its audiences. As a result of attending a cultural event, attendees often eat dinner in local restaurants, pay for parking, buy gifts and souvenirs, and pay a babysitter. What’s more, attendees from out of town often stay overnight in a local hotel. In Dallas, these dollars support 33,554 full-time equivalent jobs and generate $97,232,000 in local and state government revenues.
The Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study was conducted by Americans for the Arts and supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts’ local, regional, and statewide project partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. Financial information from organizations was collected in partnership with DataArts™, using a new online survey interface. For a full list of the communities who participated in the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study, visit www.AmericansForTheArts.org/AEP5Partners.
The City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), a division of the City Manager’s Office, works to enhance the vitality of the City and the quality of life for all Dallas citizens by creating an environment wherein arts and cultural organizations thrive and people of all ages enjoy opportunities for creative expression and the celebration of our community’s multicultural heritage. OCA’s mission is to establish a cultural system that ensures all Dallas citizens and visitors have an opportunity to experience the finest in arts and culture. Visit DallasCulture.org for more information.
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More information can be found from Americans for the Arts here
