Missouri’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $1.725 billion in economic activity in 2022, according to the newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) economic and social impact study conducted by the national nonprofit Americans for the Arts (AFTA).
The $1.725 billion of economic activity includes $1.136 billion in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and nearly $589.3 million in event-related spending by their audiences. This spending supported 13,356 jobs and generated nearly $14.1 million in local, state, and federal government revenue.
“The study confirms what Missouri has long appreciated—the arts create stronger economies and more vibrant communities,” says our Executive Director Michael Donovan. “The state of Missouri is more innovative and resourceful when the arts thrive.”
“The arts have a profound impact on our state’s cultural, educational, and economic vitality,” says Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe. “We’re proud to promote Missouri as a great place to live, work, and visit, and the arts play an important role in Missouri’s tourism industry.”
The study reinforces that cultural tourism is a powerful economic driver for Missouri. Of people attending arts events in our state, 30.1% were from outside the county in which the activity took place. They spent an average of $60.57 per person per event, not including the cost of admission. Local attendees spent an average of $29.77 per person per event.
A one-sheet summary and a full report of Missouri’s results are at our website.
Nationally, AEP6 states that America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry. It supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government revenue.
The full national report, a map of the 373 regions throughout the U.S. that AFTA studied, and the one-sheet summary for each region are at AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.
The Missouri Arts Council commissioned the Missouri-specific AEP6 study. Eight Missouri regions commissioned their own individual studies: the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Greater St. Louis Area, Buchanan County, St. Charles County, and Columbia, Hannibal, Joplin, and Springfield.
Americans for the Arts is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. AFTA has conducted art economic impact studies about every five years since 1994.
