In Florida:
• Arts and cultural groups have an annual economic impact of more than $2.9 billion.
• More than 28,000 jobs are supported by the arts.
• Attendance at arts events tops 400 million each year.
• More than one in six tourists visiting Florida say they enjoyed Florida's arts and cultural offerings, and that doesn't include theme parks such as Disney World. Seven million tourists visited Florida's cultural facilities, spending $4.5 billion during their stays.
Source: Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, "The Economic Impact of the Florida Arts and Cultural Industry," William Stronge, 2000, 2004.
In Tampa Bay:
• The arts contributes more than $400 million to the local economy.
• More than 5.5 million people attend an arts or cultural event annually, 2.2 million more than attend Bucs, Devil Rays, Lightning, Mutiny, college football and basketball and the Outback Bowl — combined. Forty-five percent of those attending arts events were admitted for free.
• Arts groups provide more than 7,000 jobs, with salaries totaling $147 million.
Source: 2000 Price Waterhouse survey conducted on behalf of the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts.
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 5, 2007.