Hawaii’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a more than $200 million industry, according to a study released by Americans for the Arts.
The study, which looked at fiscal year 2015, concluded that Hawaii’s nonprofit arts and cultural organizations contributed $125.9 million in economic activity to the state, while event-related spending by their audiences made up an additional $79.7 million.
The study, titled Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, also said the industry supports 5,968 full-time equivalent jobs, generates $154.1 million in household income to local residents and delivers $23.2 million in local and state government revenue.
Average spending on nonprofit arts and cultural activities were $22.50 for resident attendees and $57.35 for nonresident attendees.
“Arts organizations are businesses,” Randy Cohen, vice president of research and policy for Americans for the Arts, said during a presentation of the study at the Hawaii State Art Museum. “They employ people locally. They purchase goods and services in the community. Arts organizations are good business citizens.”
Data for the report was collected from 109 of Hawaii’s 236 eligible nonprofit arts and cultural organizations identified by the Hawaii Arts Alliance, a participation rate of 46.2 percent.
A previous study by Americans for the Arts, which was done in 2011, put economic activity generated by Hawaii’s nonprofit arts and culture industry at $160 million.
Click here to view the full report.