I have now been at the helm of Sedona Arts Center for almost three months. It has been a whirlwind of activity and getting to know the organization, but I have been enjoying it immensely and am excited for the future of this amazing organization.
We just wrapped up AZ Gives Day and exceeded our goal of $20,000. This is significant, because in the time of COVID-19, we have relied greatly on our donors to keep us going.
Arts, culture and entertainment experienced the highest unemployment rate of any industry at the high point of the pandemic. While there has been some bounce back, many cultural institutions are not fully open — including the Arts Center. Planning is underway to expand in-person events and activities later this summer. So, in the meantime, revenue generation is still limited.
Recently, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released its most recent report from its Arts and Culture Production Satellite Account.
The BEA has been collecting arts-specific data now for about six years and they now break it down by state.
Arts and culture is big business and is a huge contributor to our local economy. The Sedona Arts Center, as well as all of the other arts and culture nonprofits in Sedona and our region, are essential to keeping the quality of life in our region attractive to residents and visitors. But we also contribute directly to the overall economic health of our city and state.
The numbers just released are from 2019 — prior tothe pandemic. And they are impressive. It will be very interesting to see what happens to these numbers a year or two from now. But in the meantime, for your reading pleasure:
Arts and culture in Arizona contributes $10.9 billion in Value Added to the state’s economy. Value added is an industry’s total market value of goods and services as a contribution to Gross State Product. There are 89,033 people employed by arts and culture industries in Arizona and total compensation is $5.6 billion. Arizona ranked 9th among all states in ACPSA value added growth in year upon year comparisons and 20th in overall value added.
So remember, when you support arts and culture in Sedona, you are also fueling our economy, supporting jobs and making our city a better place for us all.
Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the nonprofit organization is based at the Art Barn in Uptown and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley.
The center’s Fine Art Gallery promotes the original works of over 100 local artists and regularly offers special assistance for collectors and art buyers, offers private studio visits and fosters hundreds of arts education opportunities each year. Visit SedonaArtsCenter.org to learn more.
Arts & Culture, written this week by Julie Richard, executive director of the Sedona Arts Center, appears in The Scene.
