ArtsWestchester Cites Study to Prove Value of the Arts
The economic impact of the arts in Westchester County has nearly tripled since the first study was done in 1995, according to a study by Americans for the Arts.
On Friday, ArtsWestchester announced the results of the latest study, which suggests the arts had a $156.44 million impact on the county and supported 4,800 jobs in 2010.
“It erases the misconception that the arts are a luxury that we can support in prosperous times but are hard to justify with the economy struggling,” said Randy Cohen, vice president of research and policy at Americans for the Arts. “It shows that the arts are an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue and is the cornerstone of tourism.”
The figure includes money spent by arts organizations, which is estimated at $96.8 million, and money that was the result of spending by audiences, which totaled $59.6 million. The total was $54.18 million in 1995 and $119.88 million the previous time the study was done, in 2005.
“There’s been a tremendous growth in the past five years,” ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam said.
At least a dozen elected officials attended, and both County Executive Rob Astorino and Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins offered the organization praise.
“As county executive, especially at a time when funds are tight, taxpayers are stretched, we’re pleased to see the economic impacts [of the arts] to people in Westchester,” Astorino said. “The economic impact of the arts is showing strong growth.”
Looming below the surface at Friday’s event, though, were the battles over funding for ArtsWestchester that was waged between the board and Astorino the past two years and that is likely to be repeated again this fall. Astorino, a Republican, proposed cutting funding for the organization in half for 2012, a plan that was rejected by the Democratically-controlled board.
Ned McCormack, a spokesman for Astorino, said no decisions had been made regarding the 2013 budget.
“Are the arts important?” McCormack said. “Absolutely.”
“But so are buses, public safety,” he continued, going on to tick off several other services the county funds. Any funding given to ArtsWestchester comes at the expense of other services, he stressed.
Jenkins, meanwhile, used the opportunity to hammer home the fact that the board had been behind continuing full funding for the arts.
“The arts need supporters with energy and enthusiasm, and [that’s what] you have here at ArtsWestchester,” Jenkins said in a press release sent out later that day. “But this organization deserves wider and more sustained support. We are hopeful that the [Astorino] administration will step up and promise to support the arts in Westchester, especially in light of the study released today.”
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
