Central Florida cultural groups tout their economic clout as new arts-impact report released
Arts leaders and supporters banded together Tuesday to celebrate the impact the local cultural sector has on Central Florida’s economy. Speaker Randy Cohen characterized the arts this way: “Not just food for the soul, [they’re] putting food on the table.”
Cohen is vice president of research for the national advocacy organization Americans for the Arts, which presented its 6th Arts & Economic Prosperity report, a survey of arts organizations and audience members undertaken every five years.
“The fact is we’re a business. We’re an industry,” Cohen said of the arts. “That’s the story we’re trying to tell today.”
The statistics for Orange County, from data collected in fiscal year 2022, include attention-getting numbers: $264,912,735 spent by cultural organizations and their patrons and nearly 5,000 jobs supported by the cultural sector.
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The report estimated that 2,795,352 in-person cultural experiences took place during the year, with 41.5% of attendees coming from outside Orange County.
The data was gathered in cooperation with United Arts of Central Florida, which hosted Tuesday’s meeting. Surveys were collected from 95 local nonprofit cultural organizations and nearly 1,500 patrons of cultural events. The survey data was then analyzed through an economic-impact calculator that traces how many times a dollar is re-spent within the local economy before it finally “leaks” out.
Orange County was one of 373 areas Americans for the Arts surveyed across all 50 states and in Puerto Rico.
The statistics can be used to demonstrate to government officials why investing in the arts is a good idea, Cohen said, and the conclave offered sessions on how to effectively share the message of the arts’ economic impact. One big number from the report: More than $50 million returned to local, state and federal governments from cultural organizations through taxes.
Arts experiences also provide support to other businesses, the survey data found. Those attending cultural events reported spending an average of $44.60 per person in addition to the cost of the event. Those expenses included things such as paying for parking or transportation, food and drink, childcare and lodging.
The arts also play a role in luring new industry — and therefore more jobs — to Central Florida, said Tim Giuliani, president and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership, an advocacy organization dedicated to increasing the region’s prosperity.
Companies looking to relocate or expand “are trying to put their finger on what this community has that that community doesn’t,” said Giuliani — adding that Central Florida’s strong cultural sector can give the region an edge.
“It’s that vibrant cultural tapestry that we have,” Giuliani said. “It’s all woven into our region’s DNA.”
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