The Orange County Arts Commission announced on Monday that the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $130.3 million in direct economic activity, supported 5,001 full-time jobs and generated $12.5 million in local and state government revenue.
These numbers come from a study called the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in North Carolina.
The study is conducted every five years by Americans for the Arts in partnership with other nonprofit and culture organizations around the country.
“The study shows that the arts are a tool for Orange County, providing jobs and economic advantages to our communities,” director of the Orange County Arts Commission Katie Murray said in a release. “When compared to participating communities of similar size, as well as other small towns with large public universities, Orange County ranks significantly higher in terms of total impact of the arts.”
Murray says these numbers will only grow as art communities in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough become stronger.
The Orange County Arts Commission was among 24 counties and seven municipalities in the state that conducted a study.
On Monday, executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council, Wayne Martin, announced the nonprofit arts and culture economic impact for the entire Triangle area.
According to that study, the Triangle generated $863.2 million in direct economic activity in 2015, and supported 31,219 full-time jobs.
“For 50 years, the North Carolina Arts Council has been guided by the belief that the arts uplift individuals, transform our communities and enhance the reputation of our state,” Martin said. “’Arts for all citizens,’ the founding ideal for the Arts Council in 1967, has clearly fostered economic success and public participation in the arts across our state.”
This report included Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.
Related Stories
‹

Preserving the Creative Economy: Survey Examines the Impact of Arts Nonprofits on CommunitiesA recent national survey examined the impact of arts nonprofit groups on local economies, but the local industry is still seeking support.

Issiah Ross Completes Testimony, Prosecution And Defense Deliver Closing Arguments In Woods/Clark TrialThursday saw the end of testimony and the closing arguments in the case against Issiah Ross in the shooting deaths of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark.

Issiah Ross Argues Self-Defense In Double Murder Trial; Prosecution Wraps TestimonyIssiah Ross took the stand Wednesday to share his own testimony and defense in the trial over the 2022 deaths of two teens in Orange County.

Lawyer Lori Russell Details Run For Orange County Schools Board Of EducationRussell, an Orange County-based lawyer working in biotechnology, is one of six candidates vying for a seat on the board of education.

A Star Witness, Snapchat Messages and Phone Records: Prosecution Advances Testimony in Issiah Ross TrialInformation critical to the prosecution's first-degree murder case against Issiah Ross was shared during Tuesday's testimony.

'It Will Ripple to The Rest of The Community': How Cuts to Affordable Healthcare Impact EveryoneUpcoming federal policy changes to Medicaid and other programs will impact who has access to affordable healthcare.

Testimony to Resume in Trial Over Woods-Clark Killing; Here's Where Proceedings StandAfter four days of action last week, the jury will resume hearing people share their recollections around the two teenagers' 2022 deaths.

Orange County Communities to Observe Martin Luther King Day Jan. 19. Here's How it Affects Services.The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect this year: Town of Chapel Hill Most town offices will be closed Monday. Residential trash normally collected Monday will be collected Wednesday, Jan. 21. Curbside recycling collection will […]

Orange County School Board Chair Will Atherton Will Seek Re-Election In 2026Will Atherton, the current chair of the Orange County Board of Education, is one of six candidates vying for four seats.

Opening Statements, Crime Scene Testimony Shared in Woods-Clark Murder TrialBoth the prosecution and the defense of Issiah Ross began to lay out their cases around his level of guilt in the 2022 shooting deaths.
›