The findings from the Arts & Economic Prosperity Survey 5 (AEP5), a nationwide study conducted by Americans for the Arts, shows that the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Orange County generates $130.3 million in total economic activity. This spending–$93.6 million by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and an additional $36.7 million in event-related spending by their audiences–supports 5,001 full-time equivalent jobs, generates $105.2 million in household income to local residents, and deliverers $12.5 million in local and state government revenue.
Orange County, as well as the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough were participants in the study, which took place during the 2016 calendar year, using data from 2015. Localized data, as well as more information regarding how Orange County compares to similar communities and national averages, will be announced at a July press conference co-hosted with the NC Arts Council. The date of the press conference should be announced this week.
State findings were also impressive; built over the last 50 years by the North Carolina Arts Council, the state arts economy generates $2.12 billion in direct economic activity and supports almost 72,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
“Not only do the arts fuel the mind and spirit, they fuel our economy,” Governor Roy Cooper said. “This study confirms that the arts bring jobs, income and visitors to North Carolina, and underscores the important role the North Carolina Arts Council plays in nurturing our creative economy.”
AEP5 in North Carolina at a Glance:
- The nonprofit arts and culture sector generates $201.5 million in revenue for local governments and the State of North Carolina
- The nonprofit arts and culture sector supports almost 72,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
- Audiences spent more than $1.18 billion in 2015, with each in-state resident spending an average of $27.95 in the community. (Audience spending does not include the cost of admissions.
- Out-of-state attendees spent an average of $61.86 per person.
- A total of 109,525 volunteers donated 4.6 million hours to the nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that participated in the study, representing an estimated value of $108,772,044.
- Data from most of North Carolina’s 100 counties was collected from nonprofit organization profiles or audience participation surveys.
“The N.C. Arts Council has used the arts as a tool in both rural and urban areas to meet the needs of our communities over the last five decades with impressive results,” Susi Hamilton, Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources said. “This study demonstrates that the arts are an economic and employment powerhouse both locally and across the nation.”
North Carolina’s nonprofit arts and culture sector includes almost 2,500 organizations with more than half participating in the study.
“For 50 years the North Carolina Arts Council has been guided by the belief that the arts uplift individuals, transform our communities and enhance the reputation of our state,” Wayne Martin, Executive Director of the N.C. Arts Council said. “’Arts for all citizens,’ the founding ideal for the Arts Council in 1967, has clearly fostered economic success and public participation in the arts across our state.”
AEP5 is a national economic impact study of the nonprofits arts and culture industry led by Americans for the Arts in partnership with 20 states that were part of 341 study regions across the U.S.
AEP5 National Impact at a Glance:
- Nationwide AEP 5 documented the nonprofit arts industry produces $166.3 billion in economic activity every year.
- The national nonprofit arts and culture industry supports 4.6 million full-time equivalent jobs.
- Nonprofit arts and culture organizations return $27.5 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.
The N.C. Arts Council sponsored the statewide study and seven regional studies. Custom reports were conducted by 24 counties and seven municipalities in the state. For more information about the study in North Carolina visit www.NCArts.org/afta.