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Arts & Economic Prosperity IV: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences documents the key role played by the nonprofit arts and culture industry in strengthening our nation’s economy. This study demonstrates that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is an economic driver in communities—a growth industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism.

We are happy to announce that this summer we will release Arts & Economic Prosperity IV—the fourth edition of this critical study. With the help of over 180 research partners, we have collected 150,000 audience intercept surveys from cultural event attendees, as well as detailed budget and attendance information from 8,000 nonprofit arts and culture organizations across the country.  This will be the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted! 

Stay tuned for the national and local findings to be released on June 8, 2012, at the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX.  Check back here after the release to find downloads of the full report, web resources, tips & tricks on how to use the data, and much more!

Our Previous Study: Arts & Economic Prosperity III

According to our 2005 study, Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year—$63.1 billion in spending by organizations and an additional $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences. The study is the most comprehensive study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted. It documents the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in 156 communities and regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multicounty regions, and five states), and represents all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Learn more about Arts & Economic Prosperity III

National Partners

The following national organizations partner with Americans for the Arts to help public and private sector leaders understand the economic and social benefits that the arts bring to their communities, states, and the nation.