Georgia Arts Network

The arts also help lift up communities. It unifies communities regardless of ethnicity, age, or race. It helps people to better understand cultures that are different than their own. This observation is the same across all economic and demographic categories. The arts also play a big role in improving academic performance. Students who participate in the arts generally have low drop-out rates, college-going rates, standardized test scores, and GPAs. These academic gains are enjoyed by students regardless of their socio-economic status. Close to 90% of the American population believes that the arts are an indispensable part of a well-rounded education. Unfortunately, some demographics are at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing an arts education. For instance, students of color have significantly lower access to an arts education than white students.

The arts help strengthen the economy. For example, In 2015, the production of all cultural and art products in the United States added over $760 billion to the nation’s economy, including an international trade surplus of $21 –representing a 4.2% share of the country’s economy. Every year, the nonprofit arts industry creates over $160 billion — spending by audiences and organizations — which generates over $27 billion in government revenue and supports over 4 million jobs. The arts drive revenue and tourism to local businesses. Individuals who attend nonprofit arts events usually spend about $31 per event, without counting other items such as the cost of admission, meals, babysitters, parking, etc. This business traffic is very helpful for local businesses. A large portion of people who attend arts events in Georgia come from different parts of the country, this brings in money from outside into the local economy. Arts travelers are the perfect kind of tourists, they spend more and stay longer to seek authentic cultural experiences.

The arts spark innovation and creativity. Creativity is among the leading applied skills that business leaders look for when scouting for new talent. More than 70% of businesses feel that creativity is one of the most important things a new hire can bring to the team. Studies On creativity have revealed that Nobel laureates in the sciences are seventeen times more likely to be active in the arts than other scientists. Arts are the driving engine of the creative industries. The creative industries include design companies, architecture, for-profit firms, theatres, symphonies, and nonprofit museums. A study by Dun and Bradstreet revealed that 673,656 companies in the United States were involved in the distribution or creation of the arts in 2017.