Overview
– Arts & Economic Prosperity
According
to the National
Report on the Arts and Economic Prosperity in 2016, the
non-profit arts and culture industry generated $166.3 billion of
economic activity for the country—$63.8 billion in spending by arts
and cultural organizations and an additional $102.5 billion in
event-related expenditures by their audiences. The arts and culture
industry activities supported 4.6 million jobs across the country and
generated $27.5 billion in revenue for local, state, and federal
governments.
By
every measure, the results are impressive. Numerous
studies
have now
put to rest the
misconception that communities support arts and culture at the
expense of local economic development. In fact, communities are
investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates government
revenue, and is a
cornerstone for
the
tourism
industry.
These
reports show
conclusively that, locally as well as nationally, the
arts mean business!
South
Carolina and the Arts
According
to a series of South
Carolina Reports on the Arts and Economic Prosperity, there are
now over 115,000 jobs in the state associated with the arts-related
industry, e.g. publishing, printing, graphics, writers, artists,
performers, galleries, movies, theaters, museums, arts education...
The SC arts-related sector also adds $9.7 billion to the state’s
economy through jobs, tax revenue, and spending.
The
mission of the South
Carolina Arts
Commission is to help develop a thriving arts environment,
which is essential to quality of life, education and economic
vitality for the state. Its focus includes:
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Further,
the following are selected
highlights
of findings
from the
SC
Long Range Plan for the Arts:
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44% of SC residents donated money, time, or both to the arts during the year.
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Just over 13% SC residents purchased an original work of art during the year.
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87% of SC residents say it is important to have quality arts events in their communities
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95% of respondents said that the arts are an important part of basic education.
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54% rated the contribution that the arts make to the education of children as the most important benefit of the arts in their lives and communities.
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79% of SC residents favor increased funding to strengthen arts education in our schools.
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More than 92% support taxpayer funding for the arts – and almost 40 percent want to see public funding for the arts increased.
Here
in Summerton and
Clarendon County, volunteers in the local communities work to
preserve our heritage, history, and the arts. Between the Swamp
Fox Murals Trail, the Clarendon
Historical Society, Weldon
Auditorium, Lake
Marion Artisans, Summerton
Historical Preservation, the Pink
Dogwood Garden Club, and the activities of several other
organizations – the Arts are alive, thriving, and bringing
business activity to our corner of South Carolina.
What other local organizations in Summerton, Clarendon County, and Santee Cooper Lake Country did we forget to mention? Let us know.
Selected
Links
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