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New Data Touts Economic Impact of Arts & Cultural Sector

Dawn Heinen, Digital Communications Manager

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in conjunction with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), has released its annual update on the national and state-level contributions of the arts and cultural sector to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). The new data looks at the contributions of the arts and cultural industries in 2021, after the first year of COVID-19.

The data demonstrates the significant contribution of the arts and cultural industries to the national economy in 2021 while also underscoring the continued impact of the pandemic on the sector. The Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) tracks the annual economic value of arts and cultural production from 35 industries—including both commercial and nonprofit entities.

bar graph showing real value added for arts and cultural production satellite account (ACPSA) compared with US GDP - percent change over year - 2018 4% ACPSA increase vs 3% GPD increase, 2019 2% ACPSA increase vs 2.2% GDP increase, 2020 5% ACPSA decrease vs 3% GDP decrease, 2021 nearly 14% ACPSA increase vs 6% GDP increase
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Analysis shows that several core arts industries did not return to pre-pandemic production levels in 2021. This group includes:

  • Independent artists (as an industry)
  • Performing arts organizations (e.g., theater, dance, and opera companies, music groups; and circuses)
  • Arts-related construction
  • And many others

Despite setbacks for those industries, the overall national arts economy in 2021 represented 4.4 percent of GDP, or just over $1.0 trillion—a new high-water mark.

Economic Impact at the State Level

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that in 2021 arts and cultural production in Massachusetts accounted for:

  • $27.2 billion economic impact
  • 135,181 jobs
  • 4.2% of the state’s economy

Trends in arts and cultural production: 2020—2021

  • In 2021, Massachusetts ranked 9th among all states in ACPSA value added and 25th among all states in ACPSA value added growth. Since 2020, ACPSA value added has grown 11.74 percent in Massachusetts, compared with an increase of 14.43 percent for the nation.
  • In 2021, Massachusetts ranked 10th among all states in ACPSA employment and 13th among all states in ACPSA employment growth. Since 2020, ACPSA employment has grown 6.45 percent in Massachusetts, compared with an increase of 4.96 percent for the nation.

line graph comparing ACPSA value added and employment for Massachusetts and the U.S. as described in the prior 2 bullet pointsComparing Arts and Culture to Other Sectors of the Massachusetts Economy

Arts and cultural Value Added in Massachusetts ranked 2nd among the comparison sectors. Comparison industries are selected industry categories using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) drawn from BEA’s
2021 state level data for employment (full-time and part-time workers), compensation and value added by industry. The comparisons are not mutually exclusive—arts and culture includes, for example, portions of other sectors such as construction and retail trade.

bar graph comparing 2021 economic impact across various sectors - Retail $27,657,200,000 Arts & Culture $27,245,018,000 Construction $23,709,600,000 Education Services $18,008,500,000 Utilities $11,132,300,000 Transportation $9,975,200,000 Agriculture and Forestry $814,300,000 Mining $151,400,000
Source: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies report on ASPCA data.

Related Materials

The NEA’s website details the findings in a number of resources, including a press release, national summary report, and state-level summary report.

BEA has produced ACPSA fact-sheets for each state.

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has created an interactive dashboard by state.

graphic depicting the statistics mentioned in the tweet text along with the data point that $15.6B was paid in arts worker compensation in Massachusetts in 2021.


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