Chances are you’ve been to an opera, attended a gallery opening, and gone to a concert. But did you know those events – and your support – contribute almost $2 billion to the regional economy?
“Intuitively our team knew that the impact was large,” says Brandon Rudd, director of the Center for Research & Data, “But after doing this study, we now know for sure that ArtsWave and a vibrant arts sector are vital to the Cincinnati region’s economy.”
This week, ArtsWave and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber unveiled an all-new study on the arts’ impact in Greater Cincinnati from 2019-2023. Authored by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s Center for Research and Data, the report found that over that four-year span, Cincy’s arts and culture sector had a total economic impact of $1.6 Billion.
Recent national studies validate this. The Cincinnati region ranked 11th among the 20 most arts-vibrant large communities in the country, while only being the 28th most populous metro area. In addition, the region’s arts sector has a 1.48 industry location quotient, meaning it has 48% more jobs in the industry than would be expected for a region of its size.
The strength and vibrancy of Cincinnati’s arts reflect nearly a century of community support through ArtsWave, something unique to our region.
“Support from the annual ArtsWave Community Campaign provides a strong foundation from which the arts can benefit our communities in myriad social and educational ways,” says Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave president and CEO. “With this report, we also affirm the significant economic impact that the Cincinnati region’s arts organizations make through their direct expenditures, ancillary revenue created by that spending, employment, and taxes generated.”
Chamber President & CEO Brendon Cull describes the report as a clarion call.
“Arts and culture in the Cincinnati region can drive our growth in the future,” he says. “Our region’s arts and culture industry has proven to be a catalyst for innovation and growth, propelling Cincinnati onto the national stage as a hub where culture and commerce converge.”
Among other analyses, the study looked at the economic impact of the ten largest organizations led by or predominantly for Black, Brown, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). While the total economic impact of these organizations was about $15 million in 2022, the underlying context is one of outsized growth. Over the four years included in the study, these BIPOC organizations’ total impact grew by 26%, compared to 19% for all arts organizations, and the number of jobs created or supported grew by approximately 53% during that same period – much higher than the 7.4% growth for all arts organizations. With time and investment, more of these organizations could become household names for generations of Cincinnatians to come.
Although these are all encouraging numbers, the report also makes clear that the ArtsWave Community Campaign needs to grow faster and reverse a downward trend in the number of donors to deliver the same value to the community over the next century. The report projects that over the next four years, the total amount raised in inflation-adjusted, 2023 dollars will actually decrease. Maintaining a robust arts campaign is vitally important so that grants outpace inflation and stimulate further growth and innovation in the ecosystem, resulting in an ever-greater impact.
The public is invited to join nearly a century of community support for the arts as tens of thousands across the Cincinnati region come together for the 2024 ArtsWave Community Campaign, which kicks off on February 6. This year, citizen-funded grants will be invested in 150+ organizations and artists that drive economic vibrancy and social connectivity.
For more information about the report and its findings, please contact ArtsWave or the Cincinnati Regional Chamber.