Across the nation, arts and culture has proven to be a force of its own. Beyond its contribution to the human experience, arts and culture is an economic driver of vibrant communities. The findings from AEP6 reinforce the need to invest in arts and culture as a critical industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, strengthens the visitor economy, and helps preserve authentic cultural experiences.
Durham Arts Council today announced that Durham’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $233,059,155 in economic activity in 2022, according to the newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), an economic and social impact study conducted by Americans for the Arts. That economic activity–$148,744,106 in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $84,315,049 in event-related spending by their audiences supported 3,246 jobs and generated $27,141,859 in local, state, and federal government revenue. Spending by arts and culture audiences generates valuable commerce to local merchants, a value-add that few other industries can compete with. Nationally, the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study reveals 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.
Past Arts & Economic prosperity studies