The Arts are an Economic Boost to Westchester

There is good news about the arts and its economic impact in Westchester County.

According to a just-published study by ArtsWestchester in collaboration with Americans for the Arts, the economic impact of the arts has grown to $182M annually, despite the fact that the arts were one of the hardest-hit sectors in the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase tells the story of museums and theaters recovering, bringing back audiences, and filling seats. True enough, our arts organizations were shuttered during Covid, but they are on the road to recovery and artists too are now getting gigs they never dreamed imaginable during the pandemic. It is a hopeful sign, but there is more work to be done. The arts need to cultivate new audiences that are more diverse, more devoted, and more aligned with the changing demographics in the county.

According to the latest statistics, 18% of the population in Westchester is over 65; 26.3% is Latino; and 17% is African American. Since 79% of our arts audiences are residents, reaching out to these diverse constituencies could be helpful. This audience is only set to grow by leaps and bounds thanks to the boom in rental housing units in Westchester, with 10,000 new residents set to move into White Plains alone.

87% of Westchester audiences view the presence of a local arts and culture venue as a point of pride for their community. Residents want experiences close to home, and municipalities see the arts as a strategic asset in their local planning.

The economic benefit of the arts is one of the many powerful reasons to support the arts in Westchester. To make a year-end donation to ArtsWestchester which supports over 200 organizations and artists, click here.