2024 IMPACT

As 2024 winds down, we reflect on another milestone year for the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and celebrate more major steps taken towards a thriving arts & culture scene. Impactful grantmaking, investing all ARPA for the Arts dollars back into the sector, enticing arts tourism to our region, being the catalyst for an influx of murals throughout the city, and more – it has been a historic year.

We did this – and so much more – thanks to the commitment of our Board of Commissioners, the expertise of our staff, the passion of our partners, and the support of people like you who understand the value and vibrancy of an inclusive, collaborative arts community.

We invite you to review the information below and share in this year’s collective success for St. Louis.

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The arts heal, entertain, brighten our neighborhoods, and bring us together. As a nonprofit, we are asking you to join us in supporting what is easily one of St. Louis’ most valuable resources. Get involved and, if you’re able, please consider donating to the cause by clicking the button below.

Every quarter, the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis receives four-fifteenths of the hotel/motel room tax revenue earned in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. We use that funding to support local artists, arts organizations and arts programs through grants, with an emphasis on making the process clear, accessible, and equitable to all creatives in the City and County.

“Supporting the arts and culture sector is crucial for the growth and prosperity of St. Louis City and St. Louis County,” said Vanessa Cooksey, RACSTL president and CEO. “The sector provides nearly $868 million in economic activity, 12,000 jobs, and brings 8.1 million tourists and attendees to our theaters, venues, museums, festivals and more.”

Data above sourced from the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study

After a historic 18-month regional advocacy campaign, the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis received $10.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the City of St. Louis as a result of the passage of Board Bill #66 in October 2022. Distinctly separate from our annual grantmaking cycles that utilize hotel/motel tax revenue, ARPA for the Arts represents a one-time-only funding opportunity for the City of St. Louis.

A point of pride, our team worked diligently to get all available funds into the hands of individual artists and arts organizations. By the end of 2023, we distributed $3,498,534 to individual artists and organizations through the Revenue & Income Replacement grants. This year, we distributed the remaining balance to organizations through the Tourism Recovery grants as well as to artists selected for the St. Louis Mural Project, which was a historic investment in public art that places 28 murals throughout St. Louis City – two in each of the 14 wards.

In total between 2023 and 2024, we distributed $9,540,000 to 195 artists and 75 orgs. The remaining 10% of ARPA funding was allocated to staffing and administrative costs, which allowed for the fast and focused distribution of such a significant amount of federal dollars in just 15 months. Click here to read more about the ongoing impact of this major moment in St. Louis’ arts and culture sector.

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive resource to help visitors explore the extraordinary breadth and depth of arts opportunities available to them during their stay, we launched StLouisArts.org in Spring 2023. With features like Find Your Vibe, an online, mobile-friendly tool that helps tourists and residents alike discover experiences suited to their individual preferences, the website serves as a central hub to highlight artists, arts organizations, venues and more. It also gives creatives – from the up-and-coming to the well-established – an opportunity to extent their reach and share their work with a broader audience.

In 2024, we saw a soaring increase in users to the site, suggesting there is need to tap into a growing interest in arts and culture tourism to the St. Louis region. Stay tuned for more features and content in 2025! 

As the biggest public funder of the arts in St. Louis, our top priority has always been supporting the diverse collective of artists and arts organizations that make our extraordinary arts and culture community so vibrant. We are more than a funder. We are a passionate advocate, a true partner, and a leading catalyst for positive change in the arts and culture sector. Helping to ensure local artists are able to have thriving livelihoods is one of our priorities, and access to programs and initiatives like the Community Arts Training Institute, Artist Inc., and the Arts & Health Symposium were central to this effort throughout 2024

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