Tennessee Participates Statewide for the First Time in Nationally Led Nonprofit Arts and Economic Prosperity Study
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Arts Commission has signed on with Americans for the Arts (AFTA) to conduct Arts & Economic Prosperity 5: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in the State of TN (AEP5), a national study of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. In Tennessee, the Commission has partnered with 25 local arts councils, universities, city and county government agencies, as well as the nine development districts to ensure comprehensive study data by city, county and region.
AEP5 will document the key roles played by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences in strengthening the state’s economy. It is the fifth study conducted by AFTA, stretching over a 25 year period. Data is being collected throughout 2016 and complete national, state and custom local reports will be released in June, 2017.
“We have heard from communities across the state on the the impact of arts and culture,” says TN Arts Commission Executive Director Anne B. Pope, “and with this being the first statewide and largest endeavor of its kind in Tennessee, we anticipate this study will provide important data on how the arts and culture positively affect economic development, tourism and quality of life.”
Local partners will receive a customized final report on the economic impact of spending by the community’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences, including: the number of full-time equivalent jobs supported by the industry, the amount of resident household income generated by the industry, and the amount of local and state government revenue generated by the industry.
This valuable data is being collected through two types of surveys; one targets nonprofit arts and culture activity attendees, and the other is specific to eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations.
All nonprofit arts and culture organizations including informal arts groups are encouraged to contact their local study partner or the TN Arts Commission in order to be included in the study.
Contact TN Arts Commission staff Carol White at carol.white@tn.gov 615.253.8914 or Grace Robinson at grace.robinson@tn.gov or 615.253.5133 or visit the Economic Study webpage for more information.
