The Arts: Enjoyment and Industry

by Theresa Cameron

A young girl gracefully pirouettes across the stage during her ballet class recital while her proud family applauds.  Senior citizens attend an Italian opera.  The musicians tune their instruments as the conductor raises his baton to begin.  A man who is developmentally disabled wields a brush to paint a vibrant picture.  Do you see yourself or a friend in any of these examples?  Chances are, you or someone you know does because the arts play an important role in the quality of life Maryland offers its residents and visitors.  Since the arts make our cities and communities better places to live and work, they are often an important factor used by businesses in their decision to locate in Maryland.  

But the arts go beyond educational and enjoyment opportunities.  They also play an important role in the economy of our state.  In 2002, arts organizations reported about 10,198 full-time and part-time employees in Maryland.  

Who enjoys artistic endeavors in our state?  In 2002, an estimated 11 million people visited nonprofit arts organizations in Maryland.  And visitors to Maryland's nonprofit arts organizations generate significant economic impacts for the state.  For example, visitors to Maryland's nonprofit arts organizations spent $270 million on lodging, transportation, restaurants, gifts, and other travel-related incidentals. 

People come from not only the region but from all over the United States to visit Maryland's exceptional arts facilities, enjoy musical concerts and experience our unique culture.  Think of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's world-renowned musicians, the Strathmore Hall Arts Center, and the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.  All of these and more attract thousands of people to visit and explore our state.  Their expenditures generated about $88 million in direct employee income and about 5,909 direct jobs statewide.

That's not counting the actual revenues from ticket sales or jobs at arts organizations.   Visitors to Maryland's nonprofit arts organizations generated a total of $617.6 million in gross sales statewide.  These expenditures translate into jobs for Marylanders: about $186.8 million in total employee income, and about 9,534 jobs statewide.

Audiences and Organizations Make It Happen 

The economic impact of the arts industry includes the impacts of both arts organizations and arts audiences.   Arts audiences account for a large portion of the industry impact, generating 76 percent of the total jobs, 69 percent of the sales, and 62 percent of employee income.    Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center in Frederick, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center in Baltimore, the Jewish Museum of Maryland, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, and the Sandy Spring Slave Museum and African Art Gallery, are just a few examples of multidisciplinary arts organizations which, as an entire group, generated the largest economic impact -- $158.1 million in gross sales, $53.4 million in employee income, and more than 2,900 full-time equivalent jobs statewide.  

The second largest direct impact was produced by the performing arts industry, with such groups as the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Annapolis Opera Inc., Baltimore Shakespeare Festival and the American Dance Institute in Rockville, resulting in $151 million in sales, $57.9 million in employee income, and more than 2,400 full-time equivalent jobs statewide.   Finally, visual arts organizations, which include the Baltimore Museum of Industry, and the Annapolis Maritime Museum, to name a few,    directly generated $117 million in gross sales, $42.8 million in employee income, and more than 2,300 full-time equivalent jobs statewide.

Overall, the arts industry generated about $897.9 million in total gross sales, about $300 million in total employee income, and over 12,500 full-time equivalent jobs statewide, with multidisciplinary arts organizations generating the largest economic impact, followed by performing arts and then visual arts.  

Personal Participation

While many people either personally participate in or enjoy the wide variety of arts available in Maryland, let us not forget that local, state and federal arts funding is usually among the first to be cut due to budget constraints.   Arts organizations report that just 25 percent of their total income comes from federal, state and local government grants.   About 30 percent of their total income was earned from various program activities including ticket sales, exhibitors' fees, contracts, membership, etc.   Cash contributions and revenues from fundraising events totaled 25 percent of total earnings.

 
So if you are one of the many people who are involved with the arts in Maryland, whether as a lover of music, a parent of a young dancer, a volunteer at a museum, or an amateur actor in your local theatrical troupe, you can make an impact by not only donating your time and efforts or joining one of our myriad arts organizations, but by also donating much needed funds to your favorites.   Your help contributes greatly to the overall quality of life in Maryland, for now and for future generations.

Theresa Cameron is the Executive Director of the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting, supporting, and expanding cultural activities in Montgomery County.