By Janet Kopenhaver, Embracing Arlington Arts
It is a pretty well-known fact that arts and culture is immensely beneficial to a wide range of community sectors in Arlington. For example, it has been proven that students who have arts included in their school curriculum score higher on SATs and tests, and achieve higher GPAs. Also our nation’s Veterans suffering from PTSD greatly benefit from art therapy to help them adapt to civilian life. Seniors tend to stave off neurological diseases better, those suffering from physical disabilities and mental health challenges are better able to cope with their afflictions, and those recovering from illness heal faster – all due to the inclusion of arts and culture in their daily lives, and the list goes on and on. For more information on the numerous and diverse benefits arts and culture plays in our communities, states and nation, check out the “Social Impact Explorer Wheel."
But what is less known about the arts in Arlington is that the industry is an economic power house, greatly contributing to the health of our local economy. According to a report from the Americans for the Arts entitled The Creative Industries: Business & Employment, County arts entities employ 6,124 people in 658 arts-related businesses. This represents 5.1 percent of the total number of businesses located in Arlington County and 3 percent of the people they employ. In addition, according to another economic study, over $18 million of economic activity in Arlington is derived from audience expenditures associated with arts events, including eating out at restaurants, parking, ticket sales and other purchases made during their night out.
However, the fear among arts leaders and members of the Embracing Arlington Arts Board of Directors is that these economic numbers will begin to seriously decrease if the recent trend we are witnessing of arts organizations moving outside the County continues on its current path. This movement is mainly due to the fact that many local spaces have closed in recent years (i.e., Rosslyn Spectrum, Artisphere, Iota, and the Clarendon Ballroom) due to various circumstances, leaving professional Arlington arts organizations the option of either performing outside of the County, shutting down or performing out of lower quality “found” spaces (i.e., middle schools) which greatly lowers their attendee numbers.
But we remain confident that through collaboration with stakeholders, private sector organizations, arts supporters, government leaders, artists and arts organizations we will find a path to building a quality, flexible performing arts center/live music venue/meeting center that will greatly enhance the health and vibrancy of arts and culture in Arlington. Let’s keep residents here in – and attract more non-County folks (who on average spend twice as much during their nights out than residents) to – Arlington for their entertainment and cultural experiences. It’s a win-win-win for everyone!
However, the fear among arts leaders and members of the Embracing Arlington Arts Board of Directors is that these economic numbers will begin to seriously decrease if the recent trend we are witnessing of arts organizations moving outside the County continues on its current path. This movement is mainly due to the fact that many local spaces have closed in recent years (i.e., Rosslyn Spectrum, Artisphere, Iota, and the Clarendon Ballroom) due to various circumstances, leaving professional Arlington arts organizations the option of either performing outside of the County, shutting down or performing out of lower quality “found” spaces (i.e., middle schools) which greatly lowers their attendee numbers.
But we remain confident that through collaboration with stakeholders, private sector organizations, arts supporters, government leaders, artists and arts organizations we will find a path to building a quality, flexible performing arts center/live music venue/meeting center that will greatly enhance the health and vibrancy of arts and culture in Arlington. Let’s keep residents here in – and attract more non-County folks (who on average spend twice as much during their nights out than residents) to – Arlington for their entertainment and cultural experiences. It’s a win-win-win for everyone!
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