The arts are essential to our lives, communities and economies. They serve as a robust economic engine for communities, producing millions of dollars and thousands of jobs in Oregon.
The Arts & Economic Prosperity studies, produced by the Americans for the Arts in collaboration with Oregon communities, provide evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture sector is a significant industry in Oregon. The most recent data from the 2022 study show that —the sector generates $829 million in annual total economic activity. Oregon's data reveals that 8.9 million attendees of arts and culture events across Oregon spent an average of $39 per event for a total expenditure of $330,920,191, excluding the cost of the admission ticket. Event spending includes meals, parking, souvenirs, babysitting and hotel stays. Close to one million of the attendees were visitors. This economic impact study sends a strong signal that when we support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but we also invest in Oregon’s economic well-being.
The studies put to rest a misconception that communities support arts and culture at the expense of local economic development. In fact, communities that support arts and culture are investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue and is the cornerstone of tourism. It is conclusive that the arts mean business in the Oregon!
Americans for the Arts just completed its sixth national study of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and cultural industry, which revealed Oregon's arts and culture sector contributed $829 million to Oregon's economy in fiscal year 2022. The Oregon Arts Commission is the official statewide partner to document the key role played by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences in strengthening our economy.
Travel Oregon recognizes the importance arts and culture has for the tourism industry. We are grateful for their partnership in the Arts and Economic Prosperity Study 6.
Almost 20 communities across the state participated in the study, which was conducted from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023. From the coast to the valley and the high desert, communities across the state gathered data to demonstrate the economic impact of arts and culture. We thank Travel Oregon for their support of study communities.
Participating communities in the Arts and Economic Prosperity Study 6 include:
- Central Oregon
- City of Eugene
- City of Florence
- City of Klamath Falls
- City of Medford
- City of Monmouth
- City of Newberg
- City of Pendleton
- Clackamas County
- Clatsop County
- Coos Bay Region
- Eastern Border Region
- Harney County
- Lincoln County
- Marion County
- Multnomah County
- Northeast Region
- Southern Oregon
- The Gorge
- Umpqua Valley Region
- Washington County
These communities gathered the following data through organizational surveys and audience intercept surveys at arts and culture events:
- Number of jobs supported by the industry;
- Total expenditures made by the industry (organizational and audience spending at events);
- Revenue generated to local, state and federal governments;
- Amount of resident household income generated by the industry;
- Cultural tourism data for each region
Volunteerism in arts and culture sector… and more!
"The benefit of working with Americans for the Arts is that they give us data that helps us understand the impact of the arts locally, as well as across the nation. The arts have such a tremendous impact, but we must show the community the hard numbers.”
- Supervisor Linda Langston, VP/ President Elect, National Association of Counties
Arts travelers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek out authentic cultural experiences. Attendees at nonprofit arts events in Oregon in 2015 spent $42.59 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and babysitters—valuable commerce for local businesses.
In Oregon, researchers estimate that 86.1 percent of the 9.9 million nonprofit arts attendees were residents; 13.9 percent were nonresidents. In 2015, nonresident attendees spent an average of 253% more per person than local attendees ($111.36 vs. $31.52) as a result of their attendance to cultural events.
As would be expected from a traveler, higher spending was typically found in the categories of lodging, meals and transportation. When a community attracts cultural tourists, it harnesses significant economic rewards.
A strong ecosystem depends on emerging artists and creative entrepreneurs who bring new talent and growth to various industries. Leading employers see creativity as a critical skill for the future workforce. According to the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report, 2018, “Creativity, originality and initiative” is the number-three in-demand skill for employers. Artists and creative professionals are employed in various industries including software, marketing and branding, education and any business that needs a strategic thinker to develop solutions to local, national and global problems.
The arts and cultural sector can improve – not merely reflect – the health of the broader economy. The arts offer economic diversification and can rapidly recover from economic downturns. The arts entice people out of the homes and back into community life – spending time with each other, spending their money with local merchants and kick-starting the tourism industry. Research indicates that audiences are excited and eager to return to arts events.