The arts are more than just a feast for the eyes and ears in Chandler, they're a bona fide boon for the economy. A fresh report lays out how the city's nonprofit arts and culture scene generated a hefty $12.1 million in economic activity in 2022, with spending by organizations and event-goers creating jobs, fattening wallets, and bolstering government revenue, according to the City of Chandler.
The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) survey, led locally by Chandler Center for the Arts and conducted by Americans for the Arts, discovered this sector is no small-time operation, it supported 194 jobs and provided $8.2 million in personal income to residents, and that's not pocket change and additionally, the sector added $2.4 million to local and federal tax coffers. These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet, they represent real impact on real people, which goes to show you that culture isn't just for show – it pays the bills.
If you want the inside scoop on what this all means for the city's future, mark your calendars for April 22. That's when Chandler Center for the Arts is hosting a free panel to dish out all the details on the study's findings. Randy Cohen, the man with the facts from Americans for the Arts, will be there alongside Mitch Menchaca from the City of Phoenix Office of Arts + Culture, as revealed by the City of Chandler.
It turns out that when people hit the town for some culture, they're not just catching a show, they're spending dough on dinners, transport, and babysitters to the tune of about $40.28 per person, which is extra cash beyond what they cough up for tickets, and for out-of-towners, that number jumps to almost $60 bucks a pop – talk about a lucrative out-of-towner premium. The arts don't just attract local eyeballs, they're a magnet for tourist dollars too because let's face it, 72.2% of those from outside Maricopa County said they came just for the art.
For those keen on the nitty-gritty or who just love a good survey, you'll want to check out Chandler Center for the Arts to grab the full report, play around with the nonprofit economic calculator, or RSVP for the upcoming panel pow-wow. And with the folks behind the study making special efforts to include responses from BIPOC and ALAANA organizations – comprising 34% of total surveys, as per Chandler, Arizona.
