2017 Creative Vitality Index Score for Wake County Released (released Dec. 2018)
On January 29, the United Arts Council released the second installment Creative Vitality Index (CVI) score for Wake County at its ninth annual State of Arts and Culture in Wake County meeting at the NC Museum of History.
The CVI was conceived as a tool that states, counties, cities and towns can use to assess and enhance their creative edge. The latest Creative Vitality Index for Wake County was 1.00 (where the national baseline score is 1.00).
In places like Boston, Seattle and Raleigh, an energetic, open atmosphere attracts good companies and skilled workers interested in a high quality of life. Every community can strengthen its economic and cultural health by fostering policies that support creative vitality.
A score of 1.0 or greater means that the area has a relatively strong arts sector, but Wake County is no longer above the national average. The 2017 updated index value for Wake County was 1.00, reflecting a creative economy in line with the national average.
“We are pleased to see that Wake County’s creative industry had total industry earnings of $2.1 billion in this latest round of data, up $105 million since 2016,” says Eleanor Oakley, President and CEO of United Arts.
WHAT IS THE CREATIVE VITALITY INDEX? The CVI™ is an annual measure of the health of the creative economy in a city, county, state or other geographic area. Think of it as the volume of creativity in a given area. The creative economy as defined in the CVI™ includes for-profit and not-for-profit arts-related enterprises. Using readily available data on employment and community participation, the CVI reflects the vigor of this sector of the economy and culture.
Arts & Economic Prosperity Study
Nonprofit Arts Industry Generates $557 Million in Economic Impact
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2017
[Raleigh, N.C.] —Wake County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generates more than $557 million in annual economic activity — supporting 19,873 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $56,205,000 in local and state government revenues, the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County announced today.
The findings are from a national impact study Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts. In this study of fiscal year 2015, the nonprofit arts and culture industry is comprised of organizations and their audiences.
“The arts are an incredible asset in Wake County that bring value to the community and our economic development. This study shows significant growth of the nonprofit arts sector over the last five years. Everyone in Wake County benefits from that growth; it is tangible, and we need to continue finding ways to highlight the contributions of the arts,” says area businessman Milo Brunick, chair of the United Arts Council Board of Directors.
The new study is part of the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofits arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States – led by Americans for the Arts in partnership with nonprofit arts and culture organizations across the nation.
According to the study, nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Wake County spent $179,146,269 during fiscal year 2015. This direct spending is far-reaching: organizations pay employees, purchase supplies, contract for services and acquire assets within their community. Those dollars, in turn, generated $167,244,000 in household income for local residents and $15,784,000 in local and state government revenues.
The nonprofit arts and culture sector in North Carolina generates $2.12 billion in direct economic impact, supports almost 72,000 full-time equivalent jobs and creates $201.5 million in revenue for local and state government. Audiences spent more than $1.18 billion participating in arts and culture activities in North Carolina.
“For 50 years the North Carolina Arts Council has been guided by the belief that the arts uplift individuals, transform our communities and enhance the reputation of our state,” Wayne Martin, Executive Director of the N.C. Arts Council said. “’Arts for all citizens,’ the founding ideal for the Arts Council in 1967, has clearly fostered economic success and public participation in the arts across our state.”
Arts Industry Boon for Local Businesses
In addition to spending by organizations, the nonprofit arts and culture industry leverages an annual $378,008,208 in event-related spending by its audiences. As a result of attending a cultural event, attendees often eat dinner in local restaurants, pay for parking, buy gifts and souvenirs, and pay a babysitter. What’s more, attendees from out of town often stay overnight in a local hotel.
“Communities that support arts and culture create a high quality of life for their citizens while investing in an economic driver. The study results underscore the vitality and dynamism created by our nonprofit arts and culture sector. We are proud to be a part of it.” says Eleanor H. Oakley, President/CEO of the United Arts Council.
The Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study was conducted by Americans for the Arts and supported by the Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. The full text of the national statistical reports is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact.