The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Local News

December 26, 2007

Study: Somerset arts industry generates $2.3M a year

SOMERSET — Somerset County may never rise as a cultural mecca, but its arts-and-culture industry creates jobs and pulls in millions of dollars annually, a national study shows.

Americans for the Arts reported the industry generates $2.3 million yearly in Somerset County including 53 full-time equivalent jobs, said Michael Knecht, executive director for Laurel Arts in Somerset.

The study is billed as the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts-and-culture sector in the U.S.

“So often people think of non-profits as nice and important to the community, but don’t do much for the economics of the county,” Knecht said Wednesday.

“It’s significant when you look at the economic numbers they contribute.”

The $2.3 million includes $975,000 in spending by arts organizations and $1.35 million in event-related spending by arts audiences, excluding the cost of admission.

Nationally, the nonprofit artsindustry generates 5.7 million jobs – pumping $166.2 billion into the economy every year, according to Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit with offices in Washington and New York.

Somerset County is one of 156 communities and regions participating in the study titled Arts & Economic Prosperity III.

Laurel Arts gathered data from 10 local arts organizations – creating an economic profile of Somerset County.

The study is important for the county to find how it compares with similar communities, Knecht said.

And in that comparison, he added, Somerset is “a little bit behind.”

Bradford County has a slightly smaller population of 62,537 compared with 80,000 in Somerset County, yet its arts industry creates more jobs and makes more money, he said.

Knecht said he will speak with the Bradford County Regional Arts Council, which also participated in the study, to gather ideas.

“We need to see what we can be doing to grow our sector of the economy a little bit more,” he said.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
Poll

Should the speed limit on sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and related highways be raised to 70 mph from 65 mph.

Yes.
No.
I don't care because I never travel on those tolled roadways.
     View Results
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
House Ads
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com