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MARIETTA — Southeast Ohio’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated more than $24 million in economic activity in 2022, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 report by Americans for the Arts and the Buckeye Hills Regional Council.
The report measured economic activity of $12,209,889 in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $12,467,919 in event-related spending by the audiences that supported 452 jobs and generated $3,417,338 in local, state and federal government revenue.
“Southeast Ohio communities have made considerable investments in recent years to renovate historic theaters and sustain their local museums and cultural institutions,” said Sam Miller, development director at Buckeye Hills Regional Council. “The Arts & Economic Prosperity Study shows that these investments are providing a substantial annual return for these communities and contributing to the rich cultural fabric of the state’s Appalachian region.”
Nationally, the study said America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry supporting 2.6 million jobs and generating $29.1 billion in government revenue.
“Arts and culture organizations have a powerful ability to attract and hold dollars in the community longer. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses and produce the authentic cultural experiences that are magnets for visitors, tourists and new residents,” said Nolen V. 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.”
The study also established a new benchmark in the AEP study series. For the first time, the report includes social impact and equity and inclusion.
Buckeye Hills Regional Council worked with 45 arts and culture organizations in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington counties to gather data and audience surveys for the study.
Among key findings in the Southeast Ohio study:
* A typical attendee spends $35.64 per person per event, not including the cost of admission.
* 36.2% of arts and culture attendees were from outside the county in which the activity took place, spending an average of $48.01.
* 91.3% of respondents agreed the activity or venue they attended was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community.”
* 88.6% said they would “feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available.”
The full report, a map of the 373 study regions and a two-page economic impact summary for each is at AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org. The full Southeast Ohio report can be found at buckeyehills.org/arts.