Local results of national study show arts and culture generates $12.1 million in economic impact, jobs and a greater sense of community pride

Leader from Americans for the Arts coming to Chandler to lead panel discussion on results and future possibilities with arts investment in the community

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The arts mean business in Chandler and the city’s first-time participation in a national study quantifies the impact the arts have on the local economy. The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) survey, conducted by Americans for the Arts and led locally by Chandler Center for the Arts, found the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Chandler generated $12.1 million in economic activity - $4.7 million in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $7.3 million in event-related expenditures by their audiences. In 2022, that economic activity supported 194 jobs, provided $8.2 million in personal income to residents, and generated $2.4 million in tax revenue to local, state and federal governments.

The AEP6 study analyzed the economic and social impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in 394 communities across all 50 states, including the District of Columbia. The study is conducted approximately every five years, providing data that supports the fact that arts organizations are businesses that make communities more desirable places to life and work, drive local commerce, support jobs and generate government revenue.  

The community can learn more about the findings and implications for Chandler by attending a panel discussion on April 22 from 4-6 p.m. in the City of Chandler Council Chambers. Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research at Americans for the Arts and author of Arts & Economic Prosperity: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts Organizations and their Audiences, will join Mitch Menchaca, Executive Director of City of Phoenix Office of Arts + Culture, to discuss the findings and what deeper investments in arts and culture could mean for Chandler looking forward. The panel will be moderated by Chandler Center for the Arts General Manager, Michelle Mac Lennan. Admission is free; RSVPs are encouraged.

Additional findings show arts and culture drives local commerce with Chandler arts attendees spending $40.28 per person per event, beyond the cost of admission, such as, dining before or after events, transportation and childcare. Of those surveyed, 15.5% of attendees traveled from outside Maricopa County and spent an average of $59.86. The arts strengthens visitor economy and tourism with 72.2% of non-local attendees reporting that the primary purpose of their visit was specifically to attend the performance, event, exhibit, venue, or facility where they were surveyed.

Results also solidified that arts and culture organizations contribute to community pride with 82.4% of attendees who agreed the activity or venue where they were surveyed “inspired a sense of pride in the neighborhood or community.” And, 70.4% agreed the venue where they were surveyed was “an important pillar” within their community.

Data collection included surveys of arts and culture event attendees and nonprofit arts and culture organizations, conducted July 2022 to April 2023 throughout the City of Chandler. To ensure equity and inclusion was a critical part of the data methodology, 34% of collected surveys were at events organized by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American) organizations.

For more information on the study, to read the full report, use the nonprofit economic calculator and to RSVP for events related to the Chandler study, visit chandlercenter.org/aep6.