National Study Facilitated by ARTSmemphis Concludes an Annual Economic Impact of $192.9 Million by the Arts and Culture Sector in Shelby County

Reported $38 million in tax revenue and $72.2 million in event-related spending in 2022 across the arts sector

MEMPHIS—ARTSmemphis, the Mid-South’s primary arts funder, today announced that Shelby County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $192.9 million in economic activity in 2022, according to the newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), an economic and social impact study conducted by Americans for the Arts. That economic activity—$120.7 million in spending by reported local arts and culture organizations and an additional $72.2 million in event-related spending by their audiences—generated $38 million in tax revenue and supported 3,775 jobs in Shelby County.

“Memphis is the vibrant, exciting, and growing city it is today thanks in no small part to the arts,” said Ted Townsend, President & CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber. “The arts support thousands of jobs in our community, but beyond that, they create a sense of place that is vitally important to recruiting and retaining world-class companies, talent, jobs, and investment to our region.”

Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 uses a rigorous methodology to document the economic and social contributions of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. The study demonstrates locally as well as nationally, arts and culture are a critical economic driver of vibrant communities.

“This study truly reinforces both social and economic vitality of the arts,” said Elizabeth Rouse, President & CEO of ARTSmemphis. “By measuring arts and culture’s wide-ranging impact, our public and private sector leaders can continue to work together to secure funding and policies that shape a more vibrant and equitable community. That is in essence our mission at ARTSmemphis, and we’re proud to drive it further with findings from this study.”

“We all know and feel how art is the backbone of our culture, and this study’s findings prove that art is also a backbone of our economy,” said Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. “Thousands of jobs and millions in spending in the arts sector are critical to both Shelby County’s present and future.”

According to the study, when people attend a cultural event, they often make an outing of it—dining at a restaurant, paying for parking or transportation, enjoying dessert after the show, and returning home to pay for child or pet care. Attendees at Shelby County’s nonprofit arts and culture events spend an average of $36.82 per person per event, beyond the cost of admission—vital income for local businesses and a value-add that few industries can compete with. Arts and culture organizations also strengthen the visitor economy: 13.7% of Shelby County’s arts attendees travel from outside Shelby County; these cultural tourists spend an average of $63.55 per person. When asked, 67.9% of those nonlocal attendees reported that the primary purpose of their visit was “specifically to attend the performance, event, exhibit, venue, or facility” where they were surveyed.

Nationally, the AEP6 study reveals that America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry—one that supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government revenue.

“Arts and culture organizations have a powerful ability to attract and hold dollars in the community longer. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses, and produce the authentic cultural experiences that are magnets for visitors, tourists, and new residents,” said Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “When we invest in nonprofit arts and culture, we strengthen our economy and build more livable communities.”

The full report, a map of the 373 study regions, and a two-page economic impact summary for each, can be found at AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org.

ABOUT ARTSmemphis. ARTSmemphis, a 501(c)3, is the Mid-South’s primary arts funder, working behind the scenes to expand the foundation of Memphis’ arts through diligent and diverse support. The granting organization has distributed over $94 million since 1963 to local artists and arts organizations and further provides financial guidance, organizational advice, marketing support, and networking opportunities and connections. For more information, visit artsmemphis.org.

ABOUT AEP6. The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. It was supported by The Ruth Lilly Endowment Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts' 297 study partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. For a full list of the communities who participated in the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study, visit AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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