By Andrea K. Hammer
Arts enthusiasts instinctively understand the value of living every day immersed in cultural activities. For us, culture is simply the air that we breathe. From the moment we read the news each morning and process the presentation of information to the design on product packaging, an artistic perspective enriches each experience during the week.
Arts and Culture Enhance Daily Life
Expanding that basic foundation, the enjoyment of watching a wide range of films every night offers additional richness to the cultural life. For those fortunate enough to attend arts events during the week, the quality of life increases even further. As an unwavering source of relief–partcularly during the trials of the last years–the arts are a salvation on every level.
Findings From Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study
Some, understandably, need facts and figures to justify the undeniable value of the arts. Despite the pandemic pitfalls, the arts generated $151.7 billion in economic activity and supported a 2.6 million jobs nationwide in 2022. These key findings were recently announced after Americans for the Arts released the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study (AEP6), the most comprehensive economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry.
The study surveyed more than 224,000 audience members and arts and culture organizations in 373 diverse communities across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. AEP6 involved the most extensive data collection in the three decades of the study, revealing that that arts and culture are important economic drivers of communities of all sizes.
The AEP6 study broke new ground by prioritizing equity, social impact, community engagement and inclusivity. With a primary goal of reducing systemic bias, Americans for the Arts reported these findings from the AEP6 study:
- In 2022, the arts generated $151.7 billion in economic activity.
- Of this total, arts audiences spent $78.4 billion on event-related expenses.
- The arts industry supported 2.6 million jobs nationwide.
Widespread Impact of Arts and Culture
The impact of arts and culture is widespread. Arts and culture enhance cities and towns, improve emotional health and well-being, add joy to daily life and honor diverse cultural expressions and traditions. The arts also offer the chance to share experiences that strengthen social bonds, create a sense of inclusion, celebrate community pride and identity, and encourage empathy and tolerance by helping people to see the world from different perspectives.
To learn more about the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study, see https://aep6.americansforthearts.org. Then, post your reactions to this report and describe the ways that the arts enhance your daily life!