HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-21-2012 - 4a 001
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 21, 2012
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-a
SUBJECT: Proclamation in Support of Arts & Economic Prosperity IV in Orange County
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development -Arts PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Commission
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation In Support of Arts & Martha Shannon, 968-2011
Economic Prosperity IV
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation supporting Americans for the Arts' (AFTA) most recent
national arts economic impact study entitled Arts & Economic Prosperity IV and its findings for
Orange County
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Arts Commission was one of the 182 study partners
participating in this national study, the most comprehensive of its kind ever conducted. Arts &
Economic Prosperity IV (AEP4) measured the economic impact of the arts nationally and in
each of the 182 study locations. Financial data from fiscal year 2009-2010 was utilized.
Despite the economic headwinds in 2010, the results are impressive. The national results were
released to the public on June 8, 2012 at AFTA's national conference. Results for North
Carolina were released on June 11, 2012; and Orange County's results were released on June
12, 2012. The findings from Arts & Economic Prosperity IV send a clear and welcome message
— leaders who care about community vitality can feel good about choosing to invest in the arts.
Arts & Economic Prosperity IV demonstrates that America's arts industry is not only resilient in
times of economic uncertainty, but is also a key component to the nation's economic recovery
and future prosperity. The study is a myth-buster — it alters the perception that the arts are
luxuries worth supporting in prosperous times but hard to justify when the economy is struggling.
This study also sends an important message that support for the arts does not come at the
expense of economic development. Rather, arts and culture is an industry — one that supports
jobs, generates government revenue, is the cornerstone of tourism and economic development,
and drives a creativity-based economy. Locally, as well as nationally, the arts mean business.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County's total fee for the study ($4,500) was paid over several
fiscal years utilizing both State ($1,400) and County ($3,100) funds.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize
the Chair to sign the proclamation.
002
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITYIV
WHEREAS, Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading arts research and advocacy
organization, conducted its fourth benchmark study of the national economic impact of
the nonprofit arts industry in 182 study regions across the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study found that the nonprofit arts
industry generates $135.2 billion annually in economic activity and supports 4.1 million
jobs — from large urban to small rural communities, and that the nonprofit arts industry
annually returns $9.59 billion in federal income taxes, $6.67 billion in state
government revenue, and $6.07 billion in local government revenue; and
WHEREAS, the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study found that the nonprofit arts
industry in ORANGE COUNTY generates $85.4 million annually in economic activity
and supports 3,352 jobs, and that the nonprofit arts industry annually returns $3.5
million in local and $4.5 million in state government revenue; and
WHEREAS, the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study collected extensive survey data
from more than 9,721 arts organizations and 151,802 audience attendees nationwide
and from 96 local arts organizations and 1,259 local attendees; and
WHEREAS, as demonstrated by the Arts & Economic Impact Prosperity IV study, the
nonprofit arts in Orange County substantially contribute to the local economy;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA supports the findings
of the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study and urges all local, state and federal officials
to invest in nonprofit arts organizations directly, through their local and state arts
agencies, and the National Endowment for the Arts as a catalyst to generate economic
impact, stimulate business development, spur urban renewal, attract tourists and area
residents to communities activities, and to improve the overall quality of life.
This the 21St day of August, 2012.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners