The Arts Make Cents
“Ripeness is all,” the Bard of Avon told us, and the Perryman Group — headed by Waco economist M. Ray Perryman — could hardly have picked a riper moment to release its report on “The Arts, Culture, and the Texas Economy.” With every day bringing more news of corporate cutbacks, layoffs, and gloomy economic reports, the mood is right for folks to start treating the arts as a luxury they can ill afford, and that would put the fate of the city’s many ambitious cultural projects on the line. What a relief then to hear an economist stand up for the arts, not simply for what they add to our “quality of life” but as a fundamental part of the economy. The report was prepared for the Texas Cultural Trust to raise awareness of the total contributions of cultural activities within the state and offer a perspective on future patterns and prospects. And does Perryman deliver, with a forceful endorsement that will be embraced by every Lone Star culture lover, especially those who raise funds for a living. The arts in Texas, he writes, “are central to the creative elements of virtually every industry and, thus, a catalyst to growth and innovation, extending well beyond even the levels depicted in this broad-spectrum analysis. … All regions of Texas unfailingly exhibit a substantial dependence on cultural phenomena in their economic structure.”
Among his key findings:
Direct spending on the arts in Texas totals almost $22.1 billion annually.
“When viewed within the framework of their entire role in the economy,” the arts account for $190.2 billion in total expenditures (12.3% of the state total), $98.4 billion in gross product (13.6%), $61.7 billion in personal income (14.6%), and 1.918 million permanent jobs (15.7%). That accounts for about $5.8 billion per annum in the state coffers (12.2% of state fiscal resources).
“The nonprofit arts sector is the incubator for the vast role of cultural activity in the economy. For every $1 spent on those activities, more than $298 of cultural impact on the economy occurs, as well as $9.20 in state revenues. A permanent job is created by every $332 in nonprofit outlays.”
The entire report is available online at http://www.perrymangroup.com/Arts/.
SRO in 2001
Here’s more good arts economic news: The last two months have been very healthy for a number of Austin theatres. The Paramount had a huge hit with its one-week engagement of The Vagina Monologues. The show played to 97% capacity, bringing in a gross of $269,225.
Two other touring shows did brisk business over at the UT Performing Arts Center. In its second run in Austin, Rent pulled in $620,118, while the pre-Christmas run of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast scored an amazing $1,433,000.
On the home front, the Zachary Scott Theatre Center‘s three holiday shows all exceeded their goals — to the tune of 120% or more. The Santaland Diaries brought in $90,272, Chronicle cover boys the Flaming Idiots managed $200,127, and Rockin’ Christmas Party scored $213,053.
The Vortex‘s two January offerings — the revival of the ritual theatre piece Dark Goddess and the new work from national performer Karen Finley — both sold out the majority of their performances and enjoyed large houses for the rest. Granted, the Eastside venue is a smaller theatre, but a sold-out show is a sold-out show.
How great to see success across the board, in theatres large and small, with shows locally generated and brought in from out of town, with material both traditional and experimental. Here’s hoping it continues.
This article appears in February 2 • 2001.