Arts flex financial muscle
Kelli Sutterman - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 6/13/07 Section: Metro
Arts and culture organizations bring in more than $63 million to support area Iowa communities each year, according to a national study published June 6 that included the Hawkeye State for the first time.
In its third national survey, the Americans for the Arts organization invited the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance to participate in a study that included more than 116 cities and all 50 states. The alliance was the only Iowa group involved - which didn't surprise Executive Director Joe Jennison.
"We live in a community where arts and culture are important," he said. "This is a community that cares about culture. In fact, people move here because they know the arts are supported."
The alliance portion of the national study - titled "Arts and Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of Arts and Culture Organizations and their Audiences in the Iowa Cultural Corridor" - was based on interviews conducted throughout 2006. Locally, 63 nonprofit groups and 566 visiting artists were contacted.
After reviewing the study, the Americans for the Arts organization declared that local Iowa arts groups generate a total of $63,080,706 annually, which breaks down into $31.7 million spent by nonprofit organizations and $31.3 million spent by Iowa audiences in event-related spending.
"We did not realize it would be this much, but even with our surprise, we soon realized that these numbers are conservative," Jennison said.
The study was strictly based on nonprofit organizations, so Iowa arts groups that annually make profits, along with other expense variables such as ticket prices, were not included.
"The arts offer something beautiful: a different way to look at the world. But they're also a big part of the economic portion of the community," Jennison said. "This money would not be here if these groups were not here."
The study also found that Iowa artists held 1,986 full time-equivalent jobs, reinforcing the idea that Iowa City is a welcoming place for arts and culture.
In its third national survey, the Americans for the Arts organization invited the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance to participate in a study that included more than 116 cities and all 50 states. The alliance was the only Iowa group involved - which didn't surprise Executive Director Joe Jennison.
"We live in a community where arts and culture are important," he said. "This is a community that cares about culture. In fact, people move here because they know the arts are supported."
The alliance portion of the national study - titled "Arts and Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of Arts and Culture Organizations and their Audiences in the Iowa Cultural Corridor" - was based on interviews conducted throughout 2006. Locally, 63 nonprofit groups and 566 visiting artists were contacted.
After reviewing the study, the Americans for the Arts organization declared that local Iowa arts groups generate a total of $63,080,706 annually, which breaks down into $31.7 million spent by nonprofit organizations and $31.3 million spent by Iowa audiences in event-related spending.
"We did not realize it would be this much, but even with our surprise, we soon realized that these numbers are conservative," Jennison said.
The study was strictly based on nonprofit organizations, so Iowa arts groups that annually make profits, along with other expense variables such as ticket prices, were not included.
"The arts offer something beautiful: a different way to look at the world. But they're also a big part of the economic portion of the community," Jennison said. "This money would not be here if these groups were not here."
The study also found that Iowa artists held 1,986 full time-equivalent jobs, reinforcing the idea that Iowa City is a welcoming place for arts and culture.
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