Study: Dubuque’s Nonprofit Arts and Culture Generates Economic Impact of More Than $70 Million 

OCT. 12, 2023

The nonprofit arts and culture industry in Dubuque generates $70.4 million in annual economic activity, supporting 1,527 full-time equivalent jobs and generating nearly $6.7 million in local and state government revenues and $41.6 million in household income to local residents, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity VI national economic impact study.  

The most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted in the United States, Arts & Economic Prosperity VI was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. The City of Dubuque was one of 373 study regions that participated in the study.  

“We’ve known for a long time that arts and culture are a vital component of what makes Dubuque great, and these new findings help quantify just how much the industry means to our local economy,” says Mayor Brad Cavanagh. “From Art on the River, to our public murals, to annual events like snow sculpting in Washington Park…the arts offerings available within the Dubuque community are varied, exciting, and accessible. Our city is committed to continuing to grow as a regional arts and cultural destination.” 

According to the study, nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Dubuque spent $40.5 million during fiscal year 2022. This spending is far-reaching: organizations pay employees, purchase supplies, contract for services and acquire assets within their community. Those dollars, in turn, supported 1,080 jobs, generated $28.7 million in household income for local residents and $4.6 million in local and state government revenues.  

In addition to spending by organizations, the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Dubuque leverages $29.8 million in event-related spending by its audiences. As a result of attending a cultural event, attendees often eat dinner in local restaurants, pay for parking, buy gifts and souvenirs, and pay a babysitter. What’s more, attendees from out of town often stay overnight in a local hotel. In Dubuque, these dollars support 447 full-time equivalent jobs, generated $12.9 million in household income for local residents and $2 million in local and state government revenues.  

Nationally, the Arts & Economic Prosperity VI study reveals that the nonprofit arts industry produced $151.7 billion in economic activity during 2022.This spending—$73.3 billion by nonprofit arts and culture organizations plus an additional $78.4 billion by their audiences— supported 2.6 million full-time equivalent jobs and generated $29.1 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.  

The Arts & Economic Prosperity VI study was conducted by Americans for the Arts and supported by The Ruth Lilly Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts’ local, regional, and statewide project partners contributed both time and financial support to the study.  

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MEDIA CONTACT
Bonnie Spurling, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager
BSpurlin@cityofdubuque.org, (563) 690-6059