RALEIGH — Wake County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $543.3 million in economic activity last year, the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County announced Tuesday.
According to Americans for the Arts’ newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study, investments by arts organizations and agencies were a key driver of the arts sector’s resurgence after several challenging years.
“It is obvious when you look around that the arts make Wake County a great place to live,” said Jennifer McEwen, president and CEO of United Arts Wake County. “But what the AEP6 study shows is that the arts are also an important economic driver.”
Throughout North Carolina, arts and culture provided a $2.23 billion economic boost, with Wake County contributing almost 25% to the overall impact.
The AEP6 study revealed 5% growth in economic impact since 2015. United Arts said the increase reflects “extraordinary efforts by North Carolina’s arts agencies, organizations and state and local governments to raise and distribute funds to support the arts during and post-COVID-19.”
“The North Carolina arts and culture sector was a bright spot in the nation, which saw a decline of more than 7% in overall economic impact,” arts council Communications Director Lisa McIntosh said in a news release.
BY THE NUMBERS
The $543.3 million in countywide economic impact includes:
• $192 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations.
• $351.3 million in event-related spending by arts and culture audiences.
• 8,858 jobs providing $365.2 million in personal income.
• $99 million in local, state and federal government revenue.
ARTS, CULTURE AUDIENCE
In addition to the economic impact and beautification of the area, the arts also support education initiatives, community connectivity and a sense of belonging.
• 6% of arts and culture attendees were from outside the county in which the activity took place, and they spent an average of $74, providing income for local merchants.
• 6% of nonlocal attendees reported that the purpose of their visit was to attend the event where they were surveyed.
• 85% of respondents agreed that the activity or venue they attended was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community.”
• 3% of Wake County residents said they would “feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available.”
CHARTING THE ARTS
More than 1,000 North Carolina nonprofit arts and culture organizations provided financial and audience information about their 2022 expenditures and activities. Study data also included behavior and spending figures from more than 18,000 attendees to nonprofit arts and culture events from May 2022 to June 2023.
The AEP6 study prioritized equity, community engagement and inclusivity. With the goal of reducing systemic bias, Americans for the Arts transformed its approach and expanded the inclusion and participation of organizations serving or representing the Black, Indigenous and people of color and African, Latine, Asian, Arab and Native American-identifying communities.
Nationally, the study showed that America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry — one that supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government revenue.