Economic Impact of the Arts
I began working for ArtsConnect in September of 2019. I’d been volunteering to help ArtsConnect with special events. I had been working as a contract lobbyist and PR consultant for a couple of years - having organized the advocacy efforts that led to the creation of the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, the agency that replaced the Kansas Arts Commission which was eliminated by Governor Brownback in 2011.
One of the first things that I did as executive director was undertake an economic impact survey of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Topeka. We worked for what seemed like months - and piles of clipboards - to collect thousands of surveys from event attendees. We sent them all over to our friends at Americans for the Arts where economists and other experts figured out that the arts in Topeka, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generates 480 full time equivalent jobs and $827K in revenue to the city of Topeka. Every. Single. Year.
“Getting people out of their houses and spending money again will be key to jump-starting the economy. This is what the arts do—they get us out of the house and create social and economic opportunities—attending a festival, going to a museum exhibit, attending the theater. And the data show that, when we do, we are driving commerce across a range of sectors—pumping business to local merchants.”
As we approach the topic of economic recovery and the arts, I’d encourage you to read this article featuring an interview with Randy Cohen, the vice president of research at Americans for the Arts. Our creative individuals and organizations are about to be overwhelmed by work and worry - about uncertainty and lack of funding.
We will need our artists to help us dig out of this crisis. We need to keep their creative fires ablaze. I would also suggest that you reach out to your favorite artists. Buy a painting. Commission a love song for someone in your life. Pay to attend an online concert - or ten. Shop local. Take heart in the opportunity we have ahead of us to build, envision, create and imagine a world that is equitable and beautiful and everything we ever could have hoped for it to be.
With love and hope,
Sarah