Why Advocate for the Arts?

Business

Creativity boosts job success

• 55% of employed adults say their job requires them to, "be creative and come up with ideas that are new and unique."
• 60% say that the more creative and innovative they are at their job, the more successful they are in the workplace.

[1] American for the Arts Business Contributions to the Arts Report 2018

Culture & Community building

The arts provide meaning to our lives

• 69% of Americans believe the arts "lift me up beyond everyday experiences."
• 73% feel the arts give them, "pure pleasure to experience and participate in."
• 81% say the arts are "a positive experience in a troubled world."
• 72% of Americans attend an arts or cultural event within the last year, such as the theater, museum, zoom or a musical performance.

Cultural institutions add value to our community

• 90% of people believe cultural facilities (theaters, museums, sculpture parks, neighborhood arts centers) improve quality of life.

The arts unify our communities.

• 72% believe, "the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity."
• 73% agree that the arts, "helps me understand other cultures better."
• 70% of Americans enjoy the arts in "non-traditional" venues, such as a symphony in the park, performances in an airport, or exhibitions in a hospital or shopping mall.

[4] American for the Arts Public Opinion Report Summary 2018

Education

Near universal support of arts education

• 91% agree that the arts are part of a well-rounded K-12 education.
• 93% say the arts should also be taught outside of the classroom.
• Students who take arts and music classes average 93 points higher on their SAT scores.
• Low-income children who receive arts education are five times less likely to drop out of school.

[AEP5] Americans for the Arts, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 2019

Economy

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, arts and cultural production contributed $764 billion to the nation’s economy in 2015. This represents 4.2 percent of the GDP—a larger share of the economy than transportation, tourism, or construction.
• The arts and cultural sector supported 4.9 million jobs in 2015, up form 4.8 million in 2014.
• Arts and culture had a $21 billion international trade surplus in 2015.
• Every $1 that government invests in the arts leverages an additional $9 in local match, private contributions and earned income.

[2] Americans for the Arts U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: Arts & Cultural Production

U.S. Cultural destinations help grow the U.S. economy by attracting foreign visitor spending

• 29% of overseas visitors went to an art gallery or museum.
• 16% attended a concert, play or musical.

Cultural Travelers to the U.S. out-stay, out-travel, and out-spend other types of international tourists.

• Overseas cultural tourist's median length of stay is 12 nights. (Business travelers median stay is 7 nights)
• 89% of cultural heritage travelers went shopping.
• 39% of cultural heritage travelers visited more than one state.

[3] Americans for the Arts Foreign Visitors Report 2017

Arts Impacting Nebraska

Arts National Impact

Americans for the Arts Resources

• [1] Business Contributions to the Arts
• [2] U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arts + Cultural Production
• [3] Foreign Visitors Report
• [4] Public Opinion Poll