YORK COUNTY, S.C. — The Arts Council of York County today announced that its nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $40.3 million in economic activity in 2022.
This information was revealed following a study conducted by Arts & Economic Prosperity 6.
That economic activity includes $17.2 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $23.2 million in event-related spending by their audiences, which supported 665 jobs as well as generated $8.5 million in local, state, and federal government revenue, according to the study.
Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 said it uses a rigorous methodology to document the economic and social contributions of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. The study demonstrates that, locally as well as nationally, arts and culture are critical economic drivers of vibrant communities.
“The findings from this study show robust arts and cultural activity in York County, which is especially noteworthy given we are such a close neighbor to a city the size of Charlotte,” said Lori Robishaw, Executive Director of the Arts Council of York County. “Even after the considerable harm to our sector caused by the pandemic, the numbers show that activity is up from the $27 million impact in 2016, and we are regaining lost ground. Nearly a quarter of our audiences are shown to be visitors from outside the county, and the data shows they spend more.”
Looking to the future, she stated, “As the new Arts Center at Fountain Park is built and McGirt Auditorium at the Emmett Scott Center and Byrnes Auditorium at Winthrop University are renovated and come back as performance venues, cultural activity will only continue to increase. Now would be a great time for more public investment from the county and municipalities rather than less, as we can so easily see the level of return.”
Nationally, the study revealed that America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry. It supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government revenue.
“Arts and culture organizations have a powerful ability to attract and hold dollars in the community longer. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses, and produce the authentic cultural experiences that are magnets for visitors, tourists, and new residents,” said Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “When we invest in nonprofit arts and culture, we strengthen our economy and build more livable communities.”
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