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.
Local News
Study: Somerset arts industry generates $2.3M a year
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
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
