Retail
The Economics of the Arts
By Seattle Business Magazine June 8, 2012
Arts and culture organizations are an important driver of Seattles economy, generating $447.6 million in economic activity in 2010, including $272 million in spending by nonprofit arts organizations and $175.6 million in event-related spending by their audiences. These are the findings of a study released in June by Americans for the Arts, a national nonprofit arts advocacy group.
The report, based on information from 8,000 nonprofit arts and culture organizations across the country as well as 50,000 audience surveys, found that in Seattle arts organizations generated $248.2 million in household income, $17 million in local government revenues and $21 million in state government revenues.
Seattle arts and culture events attracted four million attendees from King County and 1.8 million from outside the county. Those attendees spent an average of $29.79 per person, excluding the cost of admission. Nonresidents of the county spent an average of $51 per person, including $22 for meals and refreshments and $14 for lodging