$119,700,000 In Economic Activity & 2,725 Jobs Generated Annually by NP and Culture Industry in Fresno County

Revealing the Nonprofit Cultural Arts Industry as a Formidable Business and Economic Driver for Fresno County

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA - October 17, 2008 - FRESNO COALITION FOR ARTS, SCIENCE & HISTORY (FCASH) announced today the results of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry in Fresno County. These local results were compiled as part of the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States. Entitled Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the study was conducted in 156 communities and regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multi-county regions, and 5 states) including Fresno County. FCASH helped to facilitate the gathering of the detailed economic data from 69 arts organizations that were among 6,080 local arts organizations surveyed nationwide. Americans for the Arts, which conducted the national study, is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.

The local data reveals that Fresno County's nonprofit arts industry generates $119,700,000 in economic activity annually, including:

• 2,725 full-time equivalent jobs
• $61,300,000 in resident household income
• $3,704,000 in local government tax revenues
• $7,683,000 in state government tax revenues

Cynthia Cooper, Executive Director of the Fresno Coalition for Arts, Science & History, said the organization took a giant leap this year, requesting and receiving support from city and county entities and the Regional Foundation to conduct this overdue study. It definitely shows that Fresno County's nonprofit cultural arts institutions both create jobs and economically impact the community in direct and indirect ways at a significant level compared with other areas nationwide. It also shows the cultural arts have so much more growth potential in impacting our community.

The $119,700,000 total includes $55,200,000 in spending by arts organizations and $64,500,000 in event-related spending by arts audiences, excluding the cost of admission. The $64,500,000 in event-related spending by arts audiences reflects an average of $30.21 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments, or other similar costs - with non-local attendees spending nearly twice as much as local attendees ($28.82 compared to $49.30. This compares Fresno County favorably to Montgomery County, Maryland, nationally or to Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties in California.

Nationally, according to Americans for the Arts report, the nonprofit arts industry generates 5.7 million jobs and $166.2 billion in total economic activity every year, resulting in $29.6 billion in federal, state, and local government revenues. The $166.2 billion total includes $63.1 billion in spending by arts organizations and $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences. The total economic activity has a significant national impact, generating the following:

• 5.7 million full-time equivalent jobs
• $104.2 billion in resident household income
• $7.9 billion in local government tax revenues
• $9.1 billion in state government tax revenues
• $12.6 billion in federal government tax revenues

"This study is a myth buster," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "Most Americans understand that the arts improve our quality of life. This study demonstrates that the arts are an industry that stimulates the economy in cities and towns across the country. A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive."

The nation's nonprofit arts and culture industry has grown steadily since the first analysis by Americans for the Arts in 1992, expanding at a rate greater than inflation. Between the second study conducted in 2000 and 2005, spending by organizations and their audiences grew 24 percent, from $134 billion to $166.2 billion in total economic activity.

The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study shows that nonprofits arts support more jobs than accountants and auditors, public safety officers, and even lawyers, and just slightly fewer than elementary school teachers. Spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations provide rewarding employment for more than just artists, curators, and musicians but they also directly support builders, plumbers, accountants, printers, and an array of occupations.

In addition, the study reveals that the nonprofit arts industry is the cornerstone of tourism. The $103.1 billion in event-related spending by arts audiences reflects an average of $27.79 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments, or other similar costs - with non-local attendees spending twice as much as local attendees ($40.19 vs. $19.53). When a community attracts cultural tourists, it harnesses significant economic rewards.

The results of the economic impact of the arts for each of the 116 city and county participants, as well as comparative data for the 24 communities that participated in both the 2002 and current study are available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.
The Arts & Economic Prosperity III study was conducted by Americans for the Arts and supported by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts' local and statewide project partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. The full text of the national and Fresno reports are available at http://www.fcash.org/economic-impacts

The FCASH Study under the Americans for the Arts, was supported through a grant from the Fresno Regional Foundation and funds from the County Library (through a grant from the Indian Gaming Commission, the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis, and contributed volunteer efforts in gathering the data. For more detailed information, contact Cynthia Cooper, cc@fcash.org. or www.fcash.org.