Nonprofit arts and culture have a powerful ability to attract and hold dollars within local communities. Now, for the first time, Georgia has a custom economic analysis of its nonprofit arts and culture sector – and the data from Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) from Americans for the Arts is impressive.

This recent economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry shows that when we invest in arts and culture, we strengthen our economy, build thriving communities, and increase tourism. Georgia Council for the Arts facilitated the state’s participation in the study, which  surveyed Georgia nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their event attendees. This research provided the following data about the economic impact of the nonprofit arts sector in the state of Georgia. 

What’s the impact? In 2022: 
•    Nonprofit arts and culture spending in Georgia totaled $1.3 billion.
•    19,734 jobs were supported by the sector. 
•    16.6 million people attended nonprofit arts and culture events. 
•    $49.4 million in state and local taxes were generated by the nonprofit arts and culture sector.

The results show arts and culture drive social engagement within communities, too:
•    90.6% of arts and culture attendees agree that the activity or venue where they were surveyed “is inspiring a sense of pride in this neighborhood or community.” Others said they would feel a great sense of loss if the activity or venue were no longer available.

Arts and culture strengthen tourism. 76.8% of out-of-state attendees reported that the primary purpose of their visit was specifically to attend the performance, event, exhibit, venue, or facility where they were surveyed.

These are just a few of the many benefits of a thriving arts and culture industry. Visit gaarts.com to discover more about the impact of the arts and a breakdown of the study results. 

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