ORLANDO, FL – January 10, 2024 — United Arts of Central Florida (United Arts) celebrated the $264.9
million social and economic impact of local artists and cultural organizations of Orange County with a
breakfast on January 9 at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. In addition to featured guest
speakers Randy Cohen, vice president of research at Americans for the Arts (AFTA) and Tim Giuliani,
president and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership, the event highlighted the results of the Arts &
Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study in Orange County.
The newly released AEP6 is an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture
industry. Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 provides
detailed findings on 373 regions from across all 50 states and Puerto Rico—ranging in population from
4,000 to 4 million—and representing rural, suburban, and large urban communities. The AEP6 study is
recognized as the most comprehensive economic and social impact analysis of the nation’s nonprofit arts
and culture industry.
Past studies have focused primarily on the financial, economic and tourism contributions of the nonprofit
arts and culture industry. AEP6 expands beyond those topics to include measures of social impact. Surveys
completed by individual attendees in Orange County demonstrate an appreciation for how arts and culture
impact the development and well-being of the community and its residents. 88.4% of audiences said they
would feel a great sense of loss if the activity or venue they were attending was no longer available. This
study solidifies the indispensable contribution of the arts and culture sector to Orange County’s economic
and social landscape.
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
o 41.5% of attendees were nonlocal
• $50.3 million arts and culture related revenue returned to the government
“As the local arts agency for Central Florida, it is critical for United Arts to have a clear understanding of
the current state of the entire arts ecology and to celebrate the social and economic impact of our local
arts and cultural community,” said Jennifer Evins, president and CEO of United Arts. “This study highlights
the significance of advocating for the arts, thereby underscoring their role in shaping vibrant and thriving
communities.”
With its largest cohort ever, AEP6 used a rigorous methodology to document the economic contributions
of the arts and culture industry, demonstrating locally as well as nationally, that arts and culture is a critical
economic driver of vibrant communities. The arts and culture industry supports jobs, generates
government tax revenue, strengthens the visitor economy and community vibrancy and helps to preserve
authentic cultural experiences.
Nonprofit arts and culture organizations are businesses. They employ people locally, purchase supplies
and services from nearby businesses, and engage in the marketing and promotion of their cities and
regions. Their very act of doing business — creating, presenting, exhibiting, engaging — has a positive
economic impact and improves community well-being. Nationally, nonprofit arts and culture
organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity — $73.3 billion in spending
by the organizations, leveraged by their audience’s event-related spending of $78.4 billion, which
supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in local, state, and federal government revenue.
With 41.5% of attendees traveling from outside of Orange County, it is obvious to see that arts and culture
also strengthen the visitor economy. These visiting attendees spend an average of $57.30 whereas their
local counterparts spend about $35.60.
By measuring the industry’s wide-ranging impact, public and private sector leaders can work together to
secure arts and culture funding and arts-friendly policies that shape more vibrant and equitable
communities.
“The nonprofit arts and culture industry does more than improve community livability for its residents,”
said Randy Cohen, vice president of research at AFTA. “The new AEP6 study shows that it is also big
business in Orange County — a $265 million industry that supports nearly 5,000 local jobs, generates
revenue for local businesses, and fuels a nighttime economy. The public’s investment in the arts is an
investment in both cultural and economic development.”
AFTA is the premier organization dedicated to research and advocacy for the arts in the United States. The
AEP6 study was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for
advancing the arts and arts education. It was supported by The Ruth Lilly Endowment Fund of Americans
for the Arts. Americans for the Arts’ 373 study partners contributed both time and financial support to the
study. In a subsequent session, Cohen and Nina Ozlu Tunceli, chief counsel of government & public affairs
and executive director of AFTA Action Fund, presented workshops on additional findings and how to use
the new research for advocacy. For more information on the AEP6 study, visit
AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org.
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About United Arts of Central Florida
United Arts of Central Florida is the local arts agency uniting the community and fueling the arts. With
the help of individual donors, corporations, foundations and public funding, United Arts inspires
creativity, builds community and strengthens the economy in Central Florida. United Arts is proud to
facilitate arts education programs for all ages and provide critical funding and comprehensive marketing
for local art, science, and history organizations and individual artists.
For more information, visit https://unitedartscfl.org or call 407.628.0333
