Arts & Economic Prosperity 6
Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts & culture industry, conducted every 5 years by Americans for the Arts. The Cultural Office has led our region’s local participation since 2007.
By every measure, the results are impressive. Nationally, the sector generated $151.7 billion of economic activity in 2022—$73.3 billion in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $78.4 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences. What was the impact of this economic activity? It supported 2.6 million jobs, provided $101 billion in personal income to residents, and generated $29.1 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments.
The Pikes Peak Region's Local Results
Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) provides compelling evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture sector is a significant industry in Pikes Peak Region—one that generated $184.6 million in total economic activity during 2022. This spending—$61.5 million by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and an additional $123.1 million in event-related spending by their audiences—supports 2,869 jobs, generates $89.7 million in household income for local residents, and delivers $29.3 million in tax revenues to local, state, and federal governments. This study sends a strong signal that, even in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession, the nonprofit arts & culture industry is a strong contributor to our regional life.
AEP6 demonstrates that when we support the arts, we are investing in Pikes Peak Region’s economic and community well-being.
AEP6 Impact Calculator
For every $100,000 in direct spending by a nonprofit arts and culture organization in the Pikes Peak Region, there was the following estimated economic impact during fiscal year 2022.
- Employment (Jobs)
- Resident Household Income
- Local Government Revenue
- State Government Revenue
- Federal Tax Revenue
- 2.04 jobs
- $64,565
- $1,574
- $1,910
- $14,451
An Example of How to Use the Organizational Spending Calculator Table (above):
An administrator from a nonprofit arts and cultural organization that has total expenditures of $250,000 wants to determine the organization’s total economic impact on employment in the Pikes Peak Region. The administrator would:
- Determine the amount spent by the nonprofit arts and cultural organization (in this example, $250,000)
- Divide the total expenditure by 100,000 (in this example, $250,000 divided by 100,000 equals 2.5)
- Multiply that figure by the employment ratio per $100,000 for the Pikes Peak Region
Key Findings
$184.6 million in total economic activity of local arts nonprofit organizations during 2022
$123.1 million in event-related spending by their audiences
2,869 jobs supported by local arts nonprofits
2.8 million total attendance to in person events in 2022
82% of audience survey respondents said they “would feel a great sense of loss if this activity or venue was no longer available”
This study was supported by El Paso County Community Investment Fund. Visit their website here.
Special thanks to the community volunteers who made the data collection for AEP6 possible: Amy Whitesell, Donna Butzin, Dee Androsiglio, Kit Silva, Bryse Boynton, Chloe Rosenkrantz, Adrian Cordero, Austin Kent, Jhane Buckner, Matt Hinkle, Imani Young, Frechelle Wilson, Quinn Smola, Joy Oram, and students of Thomas Maclaren School. And to COPPeR staff members, Dylan Craddock and Kate Hertz for their work on this multi-year project.
Arts and Economic Prosperity 5
Please note we DO NOT recommend comparing the results of AEP6 and AEP5. Data between the studies was collected using different methods, and the pandemic is a confounding factor that makes the studies incompatible.
2017’s Arts & Economic Prosperity study (AEP5) provides evidence that the nonprofit arts & culture sector is a significant industry in the Pikes Peak region—one that generates $153.3 million in annual economic activity. This spending—$51.2 million by nonprofit arts & cultural organizations and an additional $102.1 million in event-related spending by their audiences—supports 5,070 full-time equivalent jobs, generates $100.8 million in household income to local residents, and delivers $15.9 million in local and state government revenue. This economic impact study sends a strong signal that when we support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but we also invest in the Pikes Peak region’s economic well-being.
These are just some of the findings from AEP5, which was orchestrated locally by the Cultural Office, and conducted in cooperation with Americans for the Arts. Data collection for AEP5 was completed during 2016 (using organizational data from 2015), and the results were released publicly on June 17, 2017 at the annual Americans for the Arts conference in San Francisco. The results of the AEP5 Study were formally shared with our local community at a “Coffee with COPPeR” event on July 12, 2017.
Please note we DO NOT recommend comparing the results of AEP6 and AEP5. Data between the study was collected using different methods, and the pandemic is a confounding factor that makes the studies incompatible.
Research to advance the creative sector is part of our Creative Economy program work at the Cultural Office. Explore more data here! Power more local arts research by donating to the Cultural Office today.
