Why the Arts?

The nonprofit Arts industry (museums, theater companies, performing Arts centers, orchestras, dance companies, Arts councils) annually generates:

• $134 billion in economic activity nationally
• $53.2 billion in direct spending by Arts organizations
• $80.8 billion in spending by audiences at Arts events. (Average of $22.87 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments, etc.)
• $4.85 million full-time equivalent jobs - a greater percentage of the US workforce than is employed as doctors, lawyers, or accountants - are generated by this $134 billion, as well as $89.4 billion in household income
• $24.4 billion in federal, state, & local tax revenues
• 700% return generated by arts budgets – As federal, state, and local governments spend less than $3 billion on support for the Arts each year, this means the $24.4 billion annual financial return on the government's investment in the nonprofit arts is more than eight times the investment

The Arts are a Major Engine of the US Economy

Although the fundamental purpose of the Arts is to delight, to inspire, to portray, to provoke, the Arts are not a luxury and they should be seriously considered at budget time. The expression ''the Arts mean business'' is not just a slogan - it's an economic reality that can no longer be dismissed.

”Supporting the Arts Pays Dividends” by Robert L. Lynch, Boston Globe (10/12/2002). In reference to a study conducted by economists at the Georgia Institute of Technology, involving 3,000 arts organizations in 91 US cities.

Impact on Education

Two separate studies analyzing the impact the arts have on students both agree that learners attain higher levels of achievement through their engagement with the arts. Our arts programs and educational outreach programs already support school systems that have seen their own arts programs reduced steadily.

A 2-year study funded by U.S. Department of Education and National Endowment for the Arts, demonstrated the arts positive impact on academic achievement, performance on standardized tests, improvements in social skills and student motivation. The study further suggested that arts might be especially helpful to poor students and those in need of remedial instruction.

Additional study of over 20,000 students by the Dept. of Education listed a finding that learning in and through the arts helps level the playing field for youngsters from disadvantaged circumstances. Students with high level of arts participation outperform arts-poor students by virtually every measure.

Why Support Women Artists?

The New York State Arts Council did a nationwide survey, which showed that plays by women were produced only 16% of the time by theatres nationwide, in spite of the fact that 50% of the plays submitted to theatres are written by women.