Montco arts venues generate more than $100M in economic impact

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The 200-plus arts attractions in Montgomery County, including live theater and music venues, generate $113.3 million in total economic impact. The Centre Theater in Norristown shown above. (MONTCO.Today file photo)

Montgomery County is home to more than 200 art and culture institutions, and county leaders now know their full economic impact, including how much visitors spend on the arts.

It pays, in the long term, to know how much visitors spend on the arts – with quantifiable data, tourism and cultural institution leaders can argue why funds and other resources toward the arts are worthwhile investments, writes Kenneth Hilario for Philadelphia Business Journal. 

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The 200-plus arts attractions in Montgomery County, which include live music venues, movie theaters, gardens and museums, generate $113.3 million in total economic impact, according to a study from the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, conducted by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.

About $32.3 million is generated through organizational spending, while $81 million is from visitor spending, according to the study, making up more than 70 percent of total impact.

The data shows “why it’s important to invest in promoting the arts,” said Jessica Willingham, director of arts and culture at the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.

“As a destination marketing organization, we’re tasked with bringing people to Montco to stay,” Willingham said. “We try to look at numbers and evidence-based materials. We want to reach certain people and see what they’re interested in and receptive to; data is important to show us this type of outreach is important.”

The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board in October launched Arts Montco to raise awareness of Montgomery County’s arts and culture industry. Its the newest secondary brand under the organization’s umbrella.

To read the complete story click here. 

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