The Arts Mean Business in St. Louis

The Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 study was conducted by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC) in partnership with Americans for the Arts the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. The results are based on data collected from 163 nonprofit arts and culture organizations and also from surveying audience members at cultural events during the fiscal year of 2015. The nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $590.9 million industry in the Greater St. Louis Area – one that supports 19,129 *full-time equivalent jobs and generates $57.7 million in local and state government revenue.

Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are businesses in their own right. They spent $363.7 million during fiscal year 2015 to employ people locally, purchase goods and services from local establishments, and attract tourists. They also leveraged a remarkable $227.2 million in additional spending by cultural audiences – spending that pumps vital revenue into restaurants, hotels, retail stores, parking garages, and other local businesses. Many people believe the arts are important to a vibrant and creative community, but the industry is often marginalized related to its economic contributions. This study shows conclusively that the arts mean business in the Greater St. Louis Area!

• The arts mean jobs for our citizens.
• The arts mean sales for local restaurants and shops.
• The arts mean clients for small businesses that supply everything from printing to painting.
• The arts mean earnings for hotels by tourists who visit our city to attend arts events.
• The arts mean revenue for local and state government.

We know that the arts energize and inspire St. Louis citizens, and now we have proof that the arts are a strong economic anchor.

*Full-Time Equivalent Jobs: the total amount of labor employed including part-time and full-time jobs.