Economic Impact of Arts & Culture in Pima County

Randy Cohen, National Arts Advocate, to visit Pima County to launch the results of the Arts in Economic Prosperity ReportJoin the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance as we partner with Americans for the Arts, Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona Citizens for the Arts to present the findings from the most comprehensive study of the economic impact of Southern Arizona’s non-profit arts and cultural industry, which concluded in 2023.

Friday, February 2, 2024
CATALYST Creative Collective
4500 N Oracle Rd, Suite 110
Tucson, AZ 85705

1PM-3PM The groundbreaking AEP6 study—which marks the most extensive data collection effort in the 30-year history of the study—sought to break new ground by prioritizing equity, social impact, community engagement, and inclusivity. With a primary goal of reducing systemic bias, AFTA transformed its approach for AEP6 and expanded the inclusion and participation of organizations serving or representing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and ALAANA (African, Latin, Asian, Arab, Native American) identifying communities.

Randy Cohen, vice president of research at Americans for the Arts, will be on hand to present ways to share the data with non-profit arts and cultural leadership, individual donors, business partners, economic and tourism, and city policymakers.

This exclusive event is a dynamic data session discussing how creative sector arts and cultural nonprofits in Pima County, their leadership, and supporters can leverage the data to advocate and educate for sustained funding, demonstrate impact, and provide greater audience awareness.

PIMA COUNTY & AEP6

Over 175 local nonprofit organizations participated in the AEP6 study, and thousands of audience members from over 50 Pima County community festivals, arts performances, events, and productions were surveyed.

The study provides compelling evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture sector is one of the most significant industries in Southern Arizona, which generated $251.3 million in economic activity during 2022—$113.3 million in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $138.0 million in event-related expenditures by their audiences. That economic activity supported 4,650 jobs, provided residents with $151.2 million in personal income, and generated $45.6 million in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments.

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance underwrote and coordinated efforts for the Pima County Arts & Economic Prosperity Survey in 2022-2023.

​​In Pima County, not only is the arts and culture sector deeply embedded in our city’s societal fabric, but it is also a key economic driver that creates new jobs and generates important tax revenues. As our city grows, arts and culture are a vital part of our commitment to creating more connected and enriched communities.

“The data from the AEP6 study is a powerful validation that arts and culture are an economic driver at the community level,” said Nolen Bivens, President of Americans for the Arts. “Yet, the study also highlights the arts’ indispensable contribution to social and community development. This study–conducted with a focus on equity for the first time in 30 years–underscores that when we invest in arts and culture, we build more livable communities.”

The National study found that in 2022, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity—$73.3 billion in spending by the organizations, which leveraged an additional $78.4 billion in event-related spending by their audiences. That economic activity supported 2.6 million jobs, generated $29.1 billion in tax revenue.

ABOUT RANDY COHEN

Randy Cohen is vice president of research at Americans for the Arts—the national advocacy organization for the arts—where he has been empowering arts advocates since 1991. Randy stands out as a noted expert in the field of arts funding, research, and using the arts to address community development issues. He publishes Arts & Economic Prosperity, the national economic impact study of nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences, and Americans Speak Out About the Arts, a national public opinion study about the arts. Randy led the development of The National Arts Index, the annual measure of the health and vitality of arts in the U.S., and the National Arts Policy Roundtable, an annual convening of leaders who focus on the advancement of American culture—launched in partnership with Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute.

In the 1990’s, Randy collaborated with the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to create Coming Up Taller, the White House report on arts programs for youth-at-risk; and the U.S. Department of Justice to produce the YouthARTS Project, the first national study to statistically document the impact of arts programs on at-risk youth. His 10 Reasons to Support the Arts blog received the Gold Award from the Association of Media & Publishing—their top honor for best blog post of the year. He was a recent nominee for the Sidney Yates Advocacy Award for outstanding advocacy on behalf of the performing arts in America. A sought-after speaker, Randy has given speeches in all 50 states, and regularly appears in the news media—including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and on C-SPAN, CNN, CNBC, and NPR.

Randy has been a policy specialist for the National Endowment for the Arts, founded the San Diego Theatre for Young Audiences, and worked in medical research for Stanford University and Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. His board work includes the League of Historic American Theaters. Randy is a past Chairman of the Takoma Park Arts & Humanities Commission, during which time the Commission completed a cultural plan, established the city’s Poet Laureate and public art programs, and led the development of a million-dollar conversion of the city council chambers into a performing arts space.