Research Study from NEA Measures the Value of Performing Arts
A new Research Note from the National Endowment for the Arts, Time and Money: Using Federal Data to Measure the Value of Performing Arts Activities, analyzes the value of arts and culture through concrete monetary measures, through ‘revealed preferences’ as seen through consumer spending, and through time use, which is a ‘quality of life’ measure.
A growing body of research defines the concept of value using measures beyond traditional gauges such as economic impact. These measures include happiness and life satisfaction surveys, studies that link the arts to community development, research that clarifies the role of arts and culture in the ideas economy, and ‘value added,’ which refers to an industry’s contribution to the gross domestic product. Future NEA research will consider these more comprehensive measures of value.
The note draws on the most recent data available from the U.S. Economic Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), to arrive at monetary and non-monetary value measurements of the nation’s performing arts sector. Recent data show that performing arts organizations generated nearly $13.6 billion in revenues; Americans spent $14.5 billion on performing arts admissions, and on any given day, 1.5 million Americans attended arts performances, usually with family or friends.