Importance of Arts on Economic Impact

Many agencies struggle with finding additional ways to support arts programs during times of recession or budget cuts. The following resources can help frame an argument for the importance of the arts in building local and state economies.

2013 Otis Report on the Creative Economy
A new report released shows that California's creative jobs stem from a wide range of industries, and together, contributed $155 billion to the state's economy in 2012.

A Decade of Arts Engagement: Findings From the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, 2002-2012

By: The National Endowment for the Arts, 2012

This report synthesizes findings across several modes of arts participation (attending the visual and performing arts, reading literature, creating/performing art, using digital media to consume art, and learning within the arts) to show how many American adults--and from which backgrounds--have engaged in art throughout the decade of 2002 to 2012. Based on the NEA's Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), conducted in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Arts & Economic Prosperity IV: Economic Impact of the Nonprofit Arts & Culture Industry
By: Americans for the Arts, 2010
Every day, more than 100,000 nonprofit arts and culture organizations act as economic drivers - creating an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of our tourism industry. This study documents the key role played by the nonprofit arts and culture industry, and their audiences, in strengthening our nation’s economy.

Economic Importance of Art

By: The Arts Business Institute, 2009 
The art and craft economics have made a clear revival on the past few decades and it is time that we take hold of that presence. Jobs are becoming more and more scarce and it is imperative that the government leaders, community leaders and artists acknowledge the impacts of the art economy. This study shows in clear detail how WNC crafts people are contributing to the economy.

How a Nation Engages with Art: Highlights from the 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA)

By: The National Endowment for the Arts, 2015

This report represents results from an initial analysis in 2012. It contains statistics with demographic insights about U.S. adults' participation across five models of art activity: attending, reading books, consuming through electronic media, making and sharing, and learning. Findings are discussed for specific art forms and trend data provided where possible. 

Report on the Creative Economy of the Los Angeles Region
By: Otis College of Art and Design, 2013
The 2013 Otis Report on the Creative Economy, the seventh edition of the annual report, marks an exciting and important expansion beyond its regional study. With a grant from the California Arts Council, Otis College of Art and Design commissioned the Los Angeles County Economic  Development Corporation to broaden the report’s scope to measure, benchmark, and assess trends of the creative economy across the state.

The Economic Impact of the Creative Arts Industries: New York and Los Angeles

By: Michael Dolfman, Richard Holden & Solidelle Fortier Wasser, 2006
Data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages provide a fresh perspective on the impact and value of the creative arts to the economies of New York and Los Angeles; one of every 4 creative arts industry jobs in the Nation operated out of either of those locales in 2006. This article examines the creative arts industries from the perspective of their economic impact on two geographic regions: New York and Los Angeles. By clustering, or concentrating, their resources in these two locations, the creative arts industries have been able to magnify their influence.

The Arts: A Competitive Advantage for California II

By: California Arts Council, 2004
The Arts: A Competitive Advantage for California II, a study commissioned by the California Arts Council (CAC) focuses primarily on the economic impact of nonprofit arts on the state’s economy. It includes analysis-measuring growth over the past decade and substantiates nonprofit arts and cultural organizations’ contributions to the vitality of California. This study also includes a preview of groundbreaking national research conducted by Americans for the Arts (AFTA) about the creative industries4 in California.