Jennifer Evins, President and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida, traveled to Washington, D.C. on October 16 with Americans for the Arts (AFTA) to advocate for local arts and culture. This two-day event featured a highly anticipated congressional briefing that served as a platform for the presentation of findings from the 2023 Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study, a groundbreaking initiative created by AFTA. The study confirms a staggering annual economic impact of half a billion dollars ($502.4 million) generated by the arts and culture sector in Central Florida.
The national study, facilitated and funded locally by United Arts, solidifies the indispensable contribution of the arts and culture sector to Central Florida’s economic and social landscape. The impact of arts and culture in Central Florida from the study include:
- $502.4 million direct annual economic impact generated.
- $276.5 million in event-related spending.
- $110 million in federal, state, and local tax revenue generated.
- 9,424 full-time equivalent jobs supported.
- $39.75 local attendee spending/ $90.70 non-local attendee spending, per person, per art and culture events (not including admission).
In DC, Evins was invited to attend the congressional briefing and engaged with congressional leaders. Evins met with local Representative Darren Soto to shed light on the profound social and economic contributions of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences in the Central Florida region. Their discussions emphasized the significance of advocating for the arts, thereby underscoring their role in shaping vibrant and thriving communities.
AFTA, the premier organization dedicated to research and advocacy for the arts in the United States, collaborated with the Senate Cultural Caucus, Congressional Arts Caucus, and the Congressional STEAM Caucus to facilitate the briefing. The AEP6 study is recognized as the most comprehensive economic and social impact analysis of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry, which contributes $151.7 billion to the nation’s economy.
These statistics underscore the vital role of the arts and culture sector as a catalyst for economic growth and community vitality in Central Florida. The study itself represents a transformative milestone in the 30-year history of research conducted by AFTA. Prioritizing equity, social impact, community engagement, and inclusivity, the study aimed to break new ground in the pursuit of reducing systemic bias.
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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.
