Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6)
The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is the sixth economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in the U.S. This study is conducted by American for the Arts (AFTA) approximately every five years to gauge the economic impact (on employment, government revenue, and household income) of spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and the event-related spending by their audiences. Previous studies were published in 1994, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017. (Due to the unique nature of the realities of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the AEP6 study was postponed for 16 months.)
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.
National Impact
OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY GENERATED IN 2022
are spent in the nonprofit arts and cultural sector. This includes spending by arts and culture organizations and event-related expenditures by their audiences.
SPENDING BY NONPROFIT ARTS & CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS
supported 1.6 million jobs and generated $18.3 billion in local, state, and federal government revenue.
AVERAGE SPENDING PER PERSON PER EVENT
from attendees at nonprofit arts and cultural events, beyond the cost of admission.
The North Carolina Story
North Carolina’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $2.23 billion in economic activity in 2022. Investments by arts organizations and arts agencies were a key driver of the arts sector’s resurgence after several challenging years.
That $2.23 billion in statewide economic activity includes:
SPENDING BY NONPROFIT ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
EVENT-RELATED SPENDING BY AUDIENCES
LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERMENT REVENUE
FULL-TIME JOBS
County Findings
More than 1,000 North Carolina nonprofit arts and culture organizations from 25 counties provided financial and audience information about their 2022 expenditures and activities. Study data also included behavior and spending data from more than 18,000 attendees to nonprofit arts and culture events from May 2022 to June 2023.
Economic Prosperity Zones
The State of North Carolina operates eight administrative regions known as Prosperity Zones: Northwestern, Piedmont Triad (Central), Northeast, Western, Southwestern, Sandhills (South Central), and Southeast. Select the region to view their AEP6 summary of findings.
