What does this indicator measure?
This indicator reports the economic impact of arts and cultural organizations in North Texas as reported in the most recent economic impact study commissioned by North Texas Business for Culture and the Arts.

Why is this indicator important?
The fifth edition of the economic impact study commissioned by NTBCA describes the financial benefit that is realized in Dallas, Fort Worth, and other regional communities as a result of the arts and culture industry present within the DFW Metroplex.  The result of this impact study underscores the understanding that arts and culture as an industry is a powerful economic enhancement for any community.  Most policymakers and development experts today would support the idea that the cultural arts industry fosters significant positive economic impact through direct and indirect spending, indirect audience spending, and construction spending.  This indicator reports the estimated economic impact of the cultural arts industry in North Texas.  Understanding the impact of this industry is vital for a comprehensive understanding of the North Texas economy.  To ignore the presence and vitality of the cultural arts industry in our region is to essentially understand only part of our economy.

It is also important to acknowledge that in addition to its economic impact, the cultural arts industry also has a dramatic effect on the quality of life.  In this case, it is noted that the extent and nature of a cultural arts industry are a positive inducement for companies desiring a regional location that will offer an outstanding quality of life for their employees.  Companies that value talented employees understand that such employees want to live in vibrant communities that offer excellence in quality of life, with access to the arts and other cultural resources. 

How are we doing?
The fifth edition of the NTBCA economic impact study denotes the economic significance of the cultural arts industry in North Texas by reporting the following results:   

• The total economic impact of the arts in the North Texas area for the year 2004 was approximately $700.7 million, which comprises the following three components:
  • The arts and cultural organizations in the North Texas area generated approximately $394.6 million in economic activity and impact from operations.
  • The arts and cultural organizations in the North Texas area generated approximately $279.3 million in economic activity and impact from indirect audience spending associated with attendance of arts events.
  • The arts and cultural organizations in the North Texas area generated approximately $26.9 million in economic activity and impact from construction and capital expenditure activity to new and existing facilities.  
• The total economic impact of the arts in the city of Dallas for the year 2004 was approximately $453.7 million.
• The total economic impact of the arts in the other North Texas communities for the year 2004 was approximately $31.1 million.