Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County Releases Findings of Economic and Social Impact Study of Fairfield County's Arts and Culture Industry

Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study Centers Equity in Economic Research and Highlights Vital Role of Arts and Culture in Building More Livable Communities

Fairfield County, CT - The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County today announced that Fairfield County's nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $255.3 million in economic activity in 2022, according to the newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), an economic and social impact study conducted by Americans for the Arts. That economic activity–$179.7 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $75.6 million in event-related expenditures by their audiences supported 4,015 jobs and generated $62.6 million in local, state, and federal government revenue. Spending by arts and culture audiences generates valuable commerce for local merchants, a value-add that few other industries can compete with.

Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 uses a rigorous methodology to document the economic and social contributions of the nation's nonprofit arts and culture industry. The study demonstrates locally and nationally that arts and culture are a critical economic driver of vibrant communities.

Erika K. Wesley, Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance, says "This data highlights art and culture's economic value in Coastal Fairfield Country and how art and culture provide a sense of belonging and inclusion among residents of all ages that drives a sense of pride in our individual and collective communities. AEP6 provides arts and art institutions with a data-driven pathway to engage with stakeholders and secure funds to support their creative work."

Nationally, the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study reveals that America's nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry—one that supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government revenue.

"Arts and culture organizations have a powerful ability to attract and hold dollars in the community longer. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses, and produce the authentic cultural experiences that are magnets for visitors, tourists, and new residents," said Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "When we invest in nonprofit arts and culture, we strengthen our economy and build more livable communities."

AEP6 represents a reset from its previous versions, establishing a new benchmark in the AEP study series.

Social Impact: For the first time, AEP6 expands beyond the economic and financial data to include social impact measurements of arts and culture's effect on the well-being of communities and residents.

Equity and Inclusion: AEP6 broke new ground by prioritizing equity, community engagement, and inclusivity. Intending to reduce systemic bias, Americans for the Arts transformed its approach and expanded the inclusion and participation of organizations serving or representing BIPOC- (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and ALAANA- (African, Latine, Asian, Arab, Native American) identifying communities.

Cheryl Williams, Chairwoman of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, states "The inclusion of data from communities of color in the AEP6 study supports the need for equitable investment in the arts and culture industry in diverse communities to help them overcome ongoing systemic bias in funding needed to help build up these communities. The findings show that the economic and social impacts of arts and culture in these communities are nearly identical to the national average. Proper funding will help them grow and thrive as well as strengthen the entire community as a whole."

Nationally, the extensive research reveals proportional economic and community impacts among attendees at BIPOC and ALAANA organizations to the overall national average. These findings should initiate new and escalate existing, critical funding conversations about BIPOC and ALAANA organizations receiving fair and proportional financial support.

Key figures from Coastal Fairfield County's AEP6 study include:

Coastal Fairfield County's nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $52 million in event-related spending by its audiences.

The typical attendee spends $35.83 per person per event, not including the cost of admission.

20.2% of arts and culture attendees were from outside the county where the activity occurred. They spent an average of $54.57. All vital income for local merchants.

88.6% of respondents agreed that the activity or venue they were attending was "a source of neighborhood pride for the community."

85.8% said they would "feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available."

AEP6 demonstrates the significant economic and social benefits that arts and culture brings to their communities, states, and the nation. To amplify the study results and raise awareness of these widespread benefits with public and private-sector leaders, seventeen national organizations partnered with Americans for the Arts on AEP6:

 - Actors' Equity Association
 - African Diaspora Consortium
 - Arts & Planning Division (American Planning Association)
 - Black Legislative Leaders Network
 - Department for Professional Employees
 - AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations)
 - Destinations International
 - International City/County Management Association
 - Independent Sector
 - National Association of Counties
 - National Conference of State Legislatures
 - National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations
 - National Independent Venue Association
 - National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women
 - Race Forward
 - Recording Industry Association of America
 - The Conference Board
 - U.S. Conference of Mayors

By measuring arts and culture's wide-ranging impact, public and private sector leaders can work together to secure funding and arts-friendly policies that shape more vibrant and equitable communities.

The full report, a map of the 373 study regions, and a two-page economic impact summary for each can be found at AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org. For more information, follow us @Americans4Arts.