Buncombe County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $51 in economic activity in 2022, according to the newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6, an economic and social impact study conducted by Americans for the Arts in collaboration with ArtsAVL million US dollars. The study shows that arts and culture are a critical economic driver of vibrant communities, both locally and nationally.
Arts & Economic Prosperity 6, or AEP6, is a study of the economic and social impact of the state’s nonprofit arts and culture sector. This report documents the economic and social contributions of arts and culture in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Building on its 30-year history as the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind, AEP6 uses a rigorous methodology to document the economic and social contributions of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industries. 373 study partners collected spending and attendance data from over 16,000 arts and cultural organizations, as well as event-related spending information from nearly 225,000 of their participants.
Nationally, the AEP6 study shows that America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry – an industry that supports 2.6 million jobs and $29.1 billion Government revenue generated.
“Arts and cultural organizations have a strong ability to attract funds and retain them in the community longer. They employ local people, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses and create authentic cultural experiences that attract visitors, tourists and new residents,” he said Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “When we invest in nonprofit arts and culture, we strengthen our economy and build more livable communities.”
Statewide, North Carolina’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $2.23 billion in economic activity in 2022, representing a 5% increase in total economic impact since 2015, compared to a 7% decline statewide. “Not only do the arts bring joy and a better quality of life, they also provide a real boost to our economy,” he said Gov. Roy Cooper.
However, Buncombe County has seen a dramatic 26% decline since the last report was compiled in 2015. According to this report, arts and cultural nonprofits and their audiences generated over $51 million in economic activity in Buncombe County in 2022 – $25 million enabled the organizations to generate an additional $26 million in event-related spending for their audiences . This economic activity supported over 1,200 jobs and generated nearly $13 million in tax revenue.
As the local research partner for Asheville and Buncombe County, ArtsAVL collected over 1,400 audience surveys for this report over a year, and 62 local nonprofit arts organizations completed the organizational survey.
“It is important to remember that AEP6 was implemented in fiscal year 2022 as the country continued its path out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said ArtsAVL Executive Director Katie Cornell. “By any measure, the arts and culture industry has been one of the most devastated sectors of the economy, and this report truly underscores the major impact it has had on nonprofit arts organizations in Buncombe County.”
The main reason for this decline was a decline of over 50% in the number of non-local participants. Cornell explains, “More than other regions of the state, Buncombe County’s creative economy is heavily dependent on tourism, and there was likely still a fear of traveling to events, particularly indoor venues, during the study period.”
Despite this decline, the results demonstrate the significant impact that Buncombe County’s arts and cultural nonprofits have on the local economy – in both direct and indirect spending. Additionally, ArtsAVL’s May 2023 Buncombe County Creative Economy Snapshot showed that audiences are returning. According to Rae Geoffrey, Executive Director of the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, “The Wortham Center welcomed 45,000 visitors during the 22/23 season.” She continues, “Although we are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, this is encouraging. “
For more information about the Buncombe County report, visit artsavl.org/reports.
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