Original Source Date: July 1, 2024
Impact Highlights
| Annual ROI | Time Horizon | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 319.0% | 1.0 years | 2 - Strong |
| Activities | Outcomes | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Arts / Culture / Humanities | Infrastructure, Opportunity | GDP |
| Geography | Demographics |
|---|---|
| Delaware, United States | All |
Article Details
A comprehensive study titled “Arts & Economic Prosperity 6” (AEP6), conducted by Americans for the Arts (AFTA), has unveiled the significant economic and social contributions of Delaware’s nonprofit arts and culture sector in 2022. The Delaware Division of the Arts reported that this industry generated $209.5 million in economic activity, comprising $148 million from organizational spending and $61.5 million from event-related audience expenditures. This financial activity supported 3,330 jobs and yielded $40 million in revenue for local, state, and federal governments.
The AEP6 study, recognized as the most extensive of its kind over the past three decades, employed rigorous methodologies to assess the economic and social impacts of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. Nationally, the sector was identified as a $151.7 billion industry, supporting 2.6 million jobs and generating $29.1 billion in government revenue.
In Delaware, the study gathered over 4,500 audience surveys from 119 participating organizations between September 2022 and May 2023, marking the largest data collection in the state’s participation history. Key findings include:
Attendance and Spending: Approximately 1.4 million attendees visited arts and culture events in 2022. The average attendee spent $43.45 per event, excluding admission costs—a 43% increase from the previous study in 2015. Notably, 25% of attendees were from outside the hosting county, spending an average of $67.47 per person, a 33% increase from 2015.
Community Engagement: A significant 88% of respondents agreed that the arts activity or venue they attended served as a source of neighborhood pride. Additionally, 90% expressed that they would feel a sense of loss if such activities or venues were no longer available.
Volunteerism: Volunteers contributed an estimated 317,299 hours to Delaware’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations, valued at $9.4 million.
Governor John Carney emphasized the sector’s resilience post-pandemic, highlighting its role in attracting funds, providing local employment, and enriching cultural experiences, thereby enhancing Delaware’s quality of life. Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock noted the arts’ ripple effect on local businesses and tourism, with $61.5 million in event-related audience spending underscoring the sector’s economic influence. Jessica Ball, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts, pointed to the arts’ dual impact on economic vitality and community pride, as evidenced by the high percentage of residents who view arts venues as neighborhood pride sources.
The AEP6 study also introduced new dimensions by measuring the social impacts of arts and culture on community well-being and prioritizing equity and inclusion. This approach aimed to reduce systemic bias and ensure representation of organizations serving Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and other communities. National findings indicated that attendees of BIPOC and ALAANA (African, Latine, Asian, Arab, Native American) organizations had economic and community impacts proportional to the national average, prompting discussions on equitable financial support for these groups.
In summary, the AEP6 study underscores Delaware’s nonprofit arts and culture sector as a vital economic engine and a cornerstone of community identity and pride. The sector’s substantial contributions to employment, government revenue, and social cohesion highlight the importance of continued investment and support for the arts in fostering vibrant and livable communities.
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