ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, in collaboration with Americans for the Arts and Creative Pinellas, recently announced that St. Petersburg’s nonprofit arts industry generated more than $132.5 million in economic activity in 2022, according to a recently released economic and social impact study.

The economic activity included $61,607,918 in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $70,922,639 in event-related spending by their audiences, supported 2,121 jobs, and generated $26,529,721 in local, state, and federal government revenue.

Arts leaders said the study used “rigorous methodology to document the economic and social contributions of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry.”

Said Terry Marks, CEO of St. Petersburg Arts Alliance: “With every analysis of the arts community’s impact on our economy, the results are evermore apparent. The key is action. Can we together create adequate and sustainable funding for the arts? Can we connect and motivate a public and private partnership? Can we build the future along with artists, art organizations, individuals, businesses, government and the philanthropic community? I know we can.”

The study — dubbed Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 — estimated America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry nationwide and supports 2.6 million jobs.

“Arts and culture organizations have a powerful ability to attract and hold dollars in the community longer (and) employ people locally, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses,” said Nolen Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “When we invest in nonprofit arts and culture, we strengthen our economy and build more livable communities.”