“These results send a strong signal that when we invest in the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, we also invest in our region’s economic well-being,” said Christina McGrath, director of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, which is commonly known as COPPeR.

The Arts & Economic Prosperity study was conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for the Arts in tandem with studies in 182 regions representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The local study focused on nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in El Paso and Teller counties. There was a 75 percent participation rate with 51 of the approximately 68 eligible organizations responding.

Six hundred and fifty audience surveys were collected from attendees to 20 different nonprofit arts and cultural events throughout fiscal year 2010. That represents an average of nearly 1,750 arts patrons.

The local nonprofit arts industry generated $95.7 million, McGrath said, including:

• 2,168 full-time equivalent jobs

• $4,328,000 in local government tax revenues

• $2,290,000 in state government tax revenues

Also in the study:

• Total attendance at arts and culture events in greater Colorado Springs amounted to 1.3 million. These include arts events and concerts at the Pikes Peak Center, World Arena, Fine Arts Center, Air Force Academy and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Of those attendees, 87 percent are local.

• 5,291 volunteers donated 106,592 hours — an estimated value of $2.3 million — to nonprofit arts organizations.

• Three-quarters of surveyed organizations provide special programming to children and youth, both in the school system and after school.

The $72 million economic impact total includes $37.4 million in spending by nonprofit arts groups and $34.5 million in spending by their audiences, excluding the cost of admission.  The latter reflects an average of $25.89 per person in spending for hotels, restaurants, parking, souvenirs, refreshments or other similar costs. Non-local attendees (from outside El Paso County) spend twice as much as local attendees ($51.38 compared to $22.18) per event.

The overall economic impact of $72 million was significantly above the national median of $44.7 million.

Nationally, the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study shows that the nonprofit arts industry produced $135.2 billion in economic activity during 2010. This spending — $61.1 billion by nonprofit arts and culture organizations plus an additional $74.1 billion by their audiences — supported 4.1 million full-time equivalent jobs and generated $22.3 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.

“This study shines a much-needed light on the vital role the arts play in stimulating and sustaining economic development,” says Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Contrary to popular belief, the arts are a bustling industry that supports a plethora of diverse jobs, generates significant revenues for local businesses and to federal, state and local governments and provides quality of life that positions communities to compete in our 21st century creative economy.”

The arts do more than just improve our quality of life, said Chris Jenkins, COPPeR Board Member and President of Nor’wood. “The arts are an essential element of revitalization: they support local jobs, are magnets for tourists, and generate millions of dollars in economic impact for the region.”

McGrath said the national report does not include financial statistics on the more than 300 individual artists in the region.

The full Arts & Economic Prosperity study for the Pikes Peak region: coppercolo.org

For the national study: AmericansForTheArts.org/EconomicImpact