Apart from the profound influence of art and culture in defining our identities and values, the kindred industry that stems from it can be a massive driver for economic growth and development. The city of Lincoln has fostered this community for decades, and a new study attests that we’re getting a return on our investment.
The Lincoln Arts Council (LAC) announced today that Lincoln’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $97.4 million 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–$54.5 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $42.9 million in event-related spending by their audiences supported nearly 1,800 jobs and generated $14.1 million 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.
Other key findings of the study:
- The typical attendee spends $27.85 per person per event, not including the cost of admission.
- 94% of respondents agreed that the activity or venue they were attending was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community.”
- 89% said they would “feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available.”
- Nationally, the 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.
“Our vibrant nonprofit arts community in Lincoln has once again proven its significance, contributing $97.4 million to our local economy in 2022. This groundbreaking study demonstrates the power of the arts, not only as a cultural force but as a driver of economic prosperity and community pride,” says Lincoln Arts Executive Director Troy Gagner.
An overview of all findings is available here, and a study report is available here.