On Tuesday, arts leaders and supporters came together to celebrate the impact the local cultural sector is having on Central Florida’s economy. Speaker Randy Cohen characterizes art as: [they’re] to put food on the table. ”
Cohen is vice president of research for Americans for the Arts, a national advocacy group that publishes the sixth annual Arts and Economic Prosperity report, a survey of arts organizations and audiences conducted every five years. published a book.
“The fact of the matter is, we’re a business. We’re an industry,” Cohen said of art. “That’s the story we’re trying to tell today.”
Orange County statistics from data collected in fiscal year 2022 include an eye-catching figure of $264,912,735 spent by cultural organizations and their patrons and approximately 5,000 jobs supported by the cultural sector. contained.
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According to the report, 2,795,352 in-person cultural experiences were held annually, and 41.5% of participants were from outside Orange County.
The data was collected in partnership with United Arts of Central Florida, which hosted Tuesday’s meeting. Surveys were collected from 95 local nonprofit cultural organizations and his nearly 1,500 cultural event patrons. The survey data was then analyzed through an economic impact calculator that tracks how many times a dollar is reused within the local economy before it ends up “flowing away.”
Orange County was one of 373 areas surveyed by Americans for the Arts in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Cohen said the statistics can be used to show government officials why investing in the arts is a good idea, and the conclave will offer a session on how to effectively share the message of the economic impact of the arts. said that it was done. One of the big numbers from the report is that more than $50 million was returned to local, state, and federal governments through taxes from cultural organizations.
Survey data revealed that arts experiences are also supported by other businesses. Those who attended cultural events reported spending an average of $44.60 per person on top of the cost of the event. These costs include parking, transportation, food, childcare, accommodation, etc.
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The arts also play a role in attracting new industry and, in turn, more jobs to Central Florida, said the president and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership, an advocacy group aimed at promoting regional prosperity. (CEO) Tim Giuliani said.
Companies looking to relocate or expand are “trying to see what this community has that this community doesn’t have,” Giuliani said, adding that Central Florida’s strong cultural sector gives the region an edge. He added that there is a possibility.
“It’s a vibrant cultural tapestry that we have,” Giuliani said. “It’s all woven into the DNA of our region.”
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