TPAC to focus on impact of arts in Pima County

Published: 30 March, 2011

AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS LAUNCHES NATIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY OF SPENDING BY ARTS, CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS & AUDIENCES

TUCSON, Ariz. - In 2005 research showed that not-for-profit arts and culture were a significant industry in Pima County, one that generated $57.54 million in local economic activity. Now it's time to determine the current impact the arts have on this region.

The Tucson Pima Arts Council joined Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, a national research study to evaluate the impact of spending by non-for-profit arts organizations and their audiences on their local economies. This is a project of Americans for the Arts, America's leading not-for-profit organization for advancing the arts.

As one of 200 study partners across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, TPAC will coordinate the gathering of detailed economic and event attendance data from arts and culture organizations throughout Tucson and Pima County.

TPAC also will collaborate with those local organizations to collect surveys from at least 800 attendees at cultural events in Pima County during 2011. This Arts & Economic Prosperity IV research will make it possible to evaluate the impact of the recession on employment and government revenues generated by the not-for-profit arts industry.

"We expect that the findings will demonstrate that arts and culture remain a formidable industry in spite of recent economic challenges," said Roberto Bedoya, executive director of TPAC.

"We need the participation of every arts and culture organization in Pima County," Bedoya added. "Participate and be counted to demonstrate that the arts are a formidable industry in our local economy."

Specifically, the study's results will include:

• Total dollars spent by non-for-profit arts and culture organizations in Pima County.
• Total dollars spent by audiences as a direct result of their attendance at arts and culture events in Pima County.
• Number of full-time equivalent jobs supported by arts spending.
• Amount of resident household income - including salaries and wages - generated by arts spending.
• Amount of local and state government tax revenues generated by arts spending.

The previous report - Arts & Economic Prosperity III - provided compelling evidence that not-for-profit arts and culture is a significant industry in Pima County. Spending in 2005 totaled $28.8 million by not-for-profit arts and culture organizations plus an additional $28.74 million in event-related spending by their audiences. This supported 1,703 full-time equivalent jobs, generated $30.42 million in household income for local residents and delivered $5.27 million in local and state government revenue.

Nationally that economic impact study revealed that the national non-for-profit arts industry generated 5.7 million jobs and $166.2 billion in total economic activity in 2005, resulting in $29.6 billion in federal, state and local government revenues. The $166.2 billion total included $63.1 billion in spending by arts and culture organizations and $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences on items such as meals, local transportation and overnight lodging. Complete details of the 2005 study are available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.

"Arts and culture are a formidable industry that stimulates the economy in cities and towns across the country," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive.

"Much has changed since our last study as a result of the economic downturn. Arts & Economic Prosperity IV will allow us to evaluate the impact the recession has had on employment and government revenues generated by the not-for-profit arts and culture industry."

Americans for the Arts' Arts & Economic Prosperity Study IV is supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. In addition, Americans for the Arts' local and statewide project partners are contributing both time and financial support to the study.

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TPAC has served as the arts agency for both the City of Tucson and Pima County for more than 25 years. TPAC awards grants, oversees public art programs, offers professional development services to artists and arts leaders, and maintains a roster of teaching artists for community projects and public art. TPAC also partners with Americans for the Arts on economic impact research and implements community-based cultural development projects with the Kresge Foundation and Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. For more information call (520) 624-0595 or visit www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org.