It's no secret: arts and culture have a tremendous impact on the economic health of Sarasota County! Below you will find local statistics, as well as information on recent local and national economic impact reports.
A Strong Industry
As of January 2008, Florida Congressional District 13 is home to 1,690 arts related businesses that employ over 6,258 people. Arts and Creative Services within Sarasota County generate millions in local economic impact.
County-wide Employment
Sarasota County-based non-profit cultural organizations conservatively employ more than 3,000 full-time cultural workers and generate more than $123 million in household income to local residents.
Economic Competitiveness
The arts give destinations a distinctive flavor and a competitive advantage in business and tourism. For example, an estimated 7 million out-of-state "cultural" tourists annually spend $4.5 billion, adding $9.3 billion to the state's gross regional product and creating 103,713 full-time equivalent jobs with a payroll of $2.6 billion.
Neighborhood Redevelopment
Artists and the arts are pioneers in contributing to the revitalization of our neighborhoods (e.g. Towles Court, Arts Village, downtown Sarasota and downtown Venice; etc.) Arts audiences spend more than $54 million in local restaurants, hotels, retail stores and parking garages.
Better Education
The arts change kids' lives, are proven to improve students' test scores and help produce a sophisticated workforce (e.g. Arts and Communications Academies at all Sarasota County High School, Ringling College of Art + Design, etc.)
Social Change
Increasingly, the arts and social services organizations are collaborating due to the arts' track record for helping to positively change people's lives (e.g., SCAC partnership with the school district in Career & Technology Initiative, dance instruction programs for at-risk kids, community theater programs, etc.)
Business Development
The arts provide the most consistent and widespread good news about Sarasota County as Florida's "cultural coast" and the cultural scene here distinguishes our area as a sophisticated center for tourism and business.
Arts and Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of NonProfit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences (Spring 2009)
This study demonstrates that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is an economic driver in communities — a growth industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism. Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year — $63.1 billion in spending by organizations and an additional $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences.
This study is the most comprehensive study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted. It documents the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in 156 communities and regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multicounty regions, and five states), and represents all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
To view a summary report of the Arts and Economic Prosperity III study click on the image to the right. Click here to download the complete study.
The Economic Outlook for Sarasota County in 2009-2010
The Economic Outlook for Sarasota County report was prepared by Donald E. Grimes and George R. Fulton of the Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy at the University of Michigan and was presented to the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners on January 14, 2009. The report measures data, employment and structure of the Sarasota County economy along with economic comparisons to 33 of Sarasota County's peers.
"Where Sarasota really stands apart from its peers is in its arts industry. Its employment share in theatre, dance and music companies...ranks first among these counties. The second-highest share is in St. Louis city (0.10 percent), well behind Sarasota. In fact, in absolute numbers of workers, Sarasota greatly exceeds any of these counties, with an estimated 802 people employed in theatre, dance and music companies in 2007, compared wth 430 in runner-up St. Louis city." (excerpt from The Economic Outlook for Sarasota County in 2009-2010, Grimes and Fulton)
To view a summary of the report click on the image above. The full report is available on the Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy's Website.
