Research

The Arts and Economic Prosperity Study (AEP6) is a nationwide study of the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. Building on its 30-year legacy, the AEP is regarded as one of the most credible testaments to the economic power of arts and culture.

The AEP is led by Americans for the Arts. United Arts coordinates the Central Florida region's participation in this study, conducted every five to six years.

The AEP6 Reports

The AEP6 is the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, with detailed findings on 373 study regions from across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It illustrates how the nonprofit arts industry creates jobs, generates commerce, and drives tourism on a massive scale.

The economic impact of arts and culture in Orange County from the study includes:

• $264.9 million spent by organizations and audiences
• 4,943 arts and culture employment opportunities
• 2.8 million in-person attendees
  • 41.5% of attendees were nonlocal
• $50.3 million arts and culture-related revenue returned to the government

Local and regional reports include: 

• Orange County - Full Report | Summary | 10 Reasons to Support the Arts | UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse)
  • City of Orlando – Full Report | Summary | 10 Reasons | UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse - PENDING)
  • City of Winter Park – Full Report | Summary | 10 Reasons | UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse - PENDING)
  • Loch Haven Cultural Park District - Full Report | Summary | 10 Reasons (PENDING) |UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse - PENDING)
• Lake County - Full Report | Summary | 10 Reasons | UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse - PENDING)
• Volusia County - Full Report | Summary | 10 Reasons | UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse - PENDING)
• Central Florida Region (7 counties: Brevard, Lake, Osceola, Orange, Polk, Seminole, Volusia) - Full Report | Summary | 10 Reasons | UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse - PENDING)
  • Economic Impact Calculator for the Central Florida Region - Customized tool -- Use this to prepare your own organization's or project's impact data!
  • January 9, 2024 - Community Impact Breakfast event - National speakers Randy Cohen, VP of Research, Americans for the Arts, Nina Ozlu Tunceli, General Counsel Americans for the Arts and CEO of Arts Action Fund, and Tim Guliani, President & CEO of Orlando Economic Partnership - Video recording  to be posted - PENDING
    • Jan. 10, 2024 - Press release - United Arts Celebrates the Social and Economic Impact of Local Arts and Culture

State and national AEP6 reports include:

• State of Florida - Full Report (not yet released) | Summary
• National - Full Report | Brochure | Brochure (in Spanish) | 10 Reasons | UA One-Pager (with 10 Reasons on reverse - PENDING)
  • The national release of AEP6 reports began on October 12, 2023. To replay the AEP6 launch video click on this link and enter your name and email, then the passcode: f2W=yr*#
  • More on AEP6 National findings

For more information or to participate in future studies, contact United Arts’ AEP team: Trudy@UnitedArtsCFL.org.

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The AEP5 Report

The AEP5 report includes surveyed data from 218 eligible nonprofit cultural organizations in the seven-county Central Florida Region, a 31.6% response of the 690+/- registered cultural nonprofits.

Access The AEP5 Report:

• Central Florida Region (one-sheet); (summary); (full report)
• Orange County (one-sheet);(summary) (one-sheet & summary); (full report);
• Brevard County (summary); (full report)
• Lake County (summary); (full report)
• Osceola County (summary); (full report)
• Polk County (summary); (full report)
• Seminole County (summary); (full report)
• Volusia County (one-sheet); (summary); (full report)
• State of Florida (summary)– Florida Trend article
• City of Orlando (one-sheet); (summary); (full report)
• City of Winter Park (one-sheet); (summary)
• District of Loch Haven Cultural Park (one-sheet); (summary); (full report)

The Arts Ecology Study of Orange County is a collaborative endeavor by our vibrant community seeking to understand the state of our arts and cultural sector. From July through November 2022, we meticulously assessed the management, finances, governance, participation, marketing, and arts education within our flourishing cultural framework. In this initiative, United Arts joined forces with local partners, including Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs, the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, and the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation. Guided by the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland, this deep dive study unveils valuable insights that shape the future of our arts landscape.