Last week, Arts Alive! had the privilege of hosting Randy Cohen of Americans for the Arts on a speaking tour of the Monadnock region to help promote our recent Arts & Economic Prosperity Study.
The study surveyed 36 major arts institutions across the region and over 950 audience members. It found the nonprofit arts & culture organizations surveyed generate $18.5 million in annual economic activity in the Monadnock region —supporting 659 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $1.9 million in local and state government revenues, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 national economic impact study.
Arts Alive! is using the study to promote the fact that the nonprofit arts & culture industry is a business industry that contributes to the local economy and generates jobs both within the sector and in retail, lodging, government and food service. Investment in this industry is investment in local businesses, our community, and our local economy.
Unique to our region was the high investment per capita that nonprofit arts & culture organizations are making in our region as well as the incredible volunteer power that it takes to run programs provided by these organizations. Thanks to everyone who continues to be involved and continues to spread the word about the value arts & culture brings to our communities.
Arts Alive! is a grateful beneficiary of volunteer service and financial and in-kind donations. We would like the opportunity to thank our partners, sponsors, members, and contributors for helping host Americans for the Arts and prepare the five wonderful programs that we presented last week.
Among our contributors were C & S Wholesale Grocers, Eversource, The Putnam Foundation, LaBelle Winery, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center, McGowan Fine Art, Adventure Limousine, The Colony House, Sunflowers Restaurant & Fine Catering, The Inn at East Hill Farm, Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, MacDowell Colony, Larry Siegel and Tricinium, Antioch University New England, the Chambers of Commerce across the region, Hannah Grimes Center, Machina Arts, Bakers Station, CC&D’s Kitchen Market, Maryann Lindberg of Philanthropy Resource, and Twelve Pine.
Program partners included NH State Council on the Arts, NH Center for Nonprofits, NH Citizens for the Arts, NH Creative Communities Network, NH Business Committee for the Arts, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation, NH Travel Council, Monadnock Travel Council, NH Planners Association, and the Vermont/New Hampshire office of the USDA.
The purpose of our programs last week was to inform the greater community about the study and to empower them to use the data for community and economic development.
It was our particular pleasure to host Taylor Caswell, the new director of the Department of Business & Economic Affairs, Jeff Rose, the new director of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and Victoria Cimino, the director of the Division of Travel and Tourism Development.
We are proud to represent this strong sector of the local economy, and this vibrant creative community located in the Monadnock region. The investment that companies, organizations, and individuals are making to enhance our programs is inspiring and we hope to continue to be a trusted partner in community and economic development across the region.
To download a copy of the Arts & Economic Prosperity study. If anyone is interested in becoming more involved with our organization, get in touch so we can continue to work together to enhance quality of life in the region through advancing arts & culture.