The Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) has released the findings from its latest economic impact study of arts and culture throughout the United States. The results indicate that arts and culture sectors contributed $1.2 trillion to the United States economy in 2023. ACPSA is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) Office of Research and Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department.
The $1.2 trillion total accounted for 4.2% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023. This is more than the amount contributed by several non-arts industries, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; mining; outdoor recreation; and transportation and warehousing.
Additionally, the $1.2 trillion figure represents the largest economic contribution of arts and culture to the GDP since the annual analysis began in 1998. In constant dollars, the economic value of arts and culture saw a 6.6% increase between 2022 and 2023.
This analysis is particularly helpful in quantifying the state of the arts in the years following the pandemic. While this data covers a myriad of arts disciplines (from publishing and creative advertising to jewelry manufacturing and sound recording), it does include performing arts organizations (encompassing theater/dance/symphony/opera companies, including Broadway) and performing arts presenters (live theater and art center operators).
In 2023, performing arts organizations contributed $17.8 million to the U.S. GDP, which marks a 31.6% increase (adjusted for inflation) from 2022. These organizations provided employment to 74,000 workers (both wage and salary employees).
In 2023, performing arts presenters contributed $28 million to the U.S. GDP, representing a 20.7% increase from 2022. These presenters provided employment to 58,000 workers.
In terms of contributing to the general economy (separate from GDP), the economic value from both performing arts organizations and performing arts presenters has increased significantly since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Performing arts organizations have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels of economic contribution, however performing arts presenters have exceeded the benchmark.
In 2023, performing arts organizations added an estimated $14.2 million to the general economy, up from $10.8 million in 2022 and $7.6 million in 2021, but still a bit under the $16.2 million contributed in 2019.
In 2023, performing arts presenters added an estimated $24.1 million to the general economy, up from $20 million in 2022 and $11.9 million in 2021, and 36.1% higher than the contribution seen in 2019.
Comprehensive national and state-specific summaries are available here.
