More than $1 billion. This is the phenomenal amount 228 arts organizations in Maryland generated in fiscal year 2007, according to a report by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.
“The report gives us the tools we need to talk about not just the importance of the arts on individuals and how the arts affect the quality of life in the region, but the real impact the arts have on our economy,” said Nancy Haragan, Executive Director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.
“The Baltimore region would be a much poorer place without the contributions of our arts and culture industry.”
Every dollar of direct spending in the local arts industry generates $2.13 in expenditures on goods and services in Maryland, noted the report.
All organizations evaluated in the study were nonprofits that received grants from the Maryland State Arts Council. Marylanders should be particularly aware that funding from the council can provide for an organization’s overhead and operations – “traditionally challenging support to get from foundations,” Haragan said.
“Foundations are more comfortable funding programs. They don’t want to be responsible for paying employees and utilities, but they are beginning to understand it is important to support organizations’ operations.”
Theresa Colvin, executive director of MSAC, hopes the report’s compelling statistics ensure arts programs and events in Maryland will remain accessible.
“The numbers demonstrate the great economic impact state funding has on the arts, on a city and county level,” she said. “There is a reason and continuing incentive to invest public dollars in the arts.”
Nonprofit arts organizations that produce or present the arts and their audiences in Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard and Anne Arundel counties and Baltimore City accounted for $704 million of the $1.2 billion.
For-profit organizations were not included in the report. Nearly 14 million people attended arts events that received support from the council during fiscal 2007.
