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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 105%;">CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI<br />P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<h2 style="font-size: 200%;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h2>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">June 29, 2017</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 75px; font-size: 120%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Sarah Dresser
<br />Office of Cultural Affairs - Program Specialist
<br />sarah.dresser@CoMo.gov or 573-874-6387</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:200%;"><h3 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 170%;">Study finds Columbia's nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $14.7 million in economic activity, supports 659 jobs annually</h3>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">The City of Columbia was one of 341 communities across the country that participated in the <em>Arts & Economic Prosperity 5</em> national economic impact study. The study found that nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $14.7 million in annual economic activity in Columbia, supports 659 full-time equivalent jobs and generates $1.3 million in local and state government revenues.</p>
<p>Results show that nonprofit arts and culture organizations spent $9.1 million during fiscal year 2015. This spending is far-reaching: organizations pay employees, purchase supplies, contract for services and acquire assets within their community. Those dollars, in turn, generated $7.25 million in household income for local residents and $717,000 in local and state government revenues.</p>
<p>"The arts are not only food for the soul, they are food on the table," City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs Program Specialist Sarah Dresser said. "This study demonstrates the impact on Columbia's economy by supporting jobs. The arts also drive tourism by bringing non-residents to Columbia, who spend more than locals when they attend arts and culture events. The arts are building a strong community, creating a more vibrant Columbia, and supporting the City's vision as a great place to live, work, learn and play."</p>
<p>In addition to spending by Columbia's organizations, the nonprofit arts and culture industry leverages $5.6 million 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. In Columbia, these dollars support 176 full-time equivalent jobs and generate $567,000 in local and state government revenues.</p>
<p>Nationwide, the <em>Arts & Economic Prosperity 5</em> study reveals that the nonprofit arts industry produces $166.3 billion in economic activity every year, resulting in $27.54 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues. In addition, it supports 4.6 million full-time equivalent jobs and generates $96.07 billion in household income.</p>
<p>"This study demonstrates that the arts are an economic and employment powerhouse both locally and across the nation," Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch said. "A vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive and helps local communities become stronger and healthier places to live. Leaders who care about community and economic vitality can feel good about choosing to invest in the arts. Nationally as well as locally, the arts mean business."</p>
<p>The most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States, <em>Arts & Economic Prosperity 5</em> was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. The Columbia study received additional support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. Americans for the Arts' local, regional, and statewide project partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. Financial information from organizations was collected in partnership with DataArts™. For a full list of the communities who participated in the <em>Arts & Economic Prosperity 5</em> study, visit <a href="http://www.AmericansForTheArts.org/AEP5Partners" target="_blank">www.AmericansForTheArts.org/AEP5Partners</a>.</p></div>
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