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The arts mean business in
Washington County, Oregon
After more than one-year postponement, the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study will get underway mid-2022. AEP6 is the sixth national economic impact study of America’s nonprofit arts and cultural industry. It documents the economic contributions of the arts in over 250 diverse communities and regions across the country, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Previous partners have included local arts agencies, community foundations, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, performing arts centers, and more. It will be more important than ever to demonstrate that, even in the wake of COVID-19 and the resulting economic recession, the arts will provide a significant boost as we recharge the economy in America’s local communities. The arts will draw people out of the homes and back into community life—spending time with each other and spending their money with local merchants. Studies indicate that audiences cannot wait to return, and we are looking to our community along with us to be there to capture it when they do!
The Arts & Economic Prosperity Series is organized by Americans for the Arts (AFTA) and has over a 25-year legacy. The AEP Series was first started in 1994 and is conducted roughly every 5 years to continuously capture key role nonprofit arts and culture organizations and events play in the United States economy. To learn more about AFTA visit www.americansforthearts.org.
Locally
The Arts Mean Business
To measure the impact of spending by cultural audiences in the Greater Portland Area, data was collected from 1,474 event attendees during AEP5. Researchers used an audience-intercept methodology, a standard technique in which patrons are asked to complete a short survey about their event-related spending (while they are attending the event). Event-related spending by these attendees totaled $116 million in the Greater Portland Area during fiscal year 2015, excluding the cost of event admission.
Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 in the region showed conclusively that, locally as well as nationally, the arts mean business!
Get Involved!
Audience surveys will be collected from attendees at performances, events, exhibits, venues, and facilities during the 12 months from May 2022 through April 2023. Venue Eligibility
If you are interested in getting involved as either a venue to be counted please submit your live event for consideration here (for the tri-county area).
Submit Your Event
If you are interested in volunteering in Washington County, please contact Raziah Roushan, Executive Director of Tualatin Valley Creates at director@tvcreates.org.
Sign Up to Volunteer
To volunteer for Multnomah County contact Mario Mesquita, the Manager of Advocacy & Engagement at Regional Arts & Culture Council, at mmesquita@racc.org.
To volunteer for Clackamas County contact Dianne Alves, the Executive Director of Clackamas County Art Alliance, at dianne@clackamasartsalliance.org.