What is art worth? $764 Billion Per Year in the US alone.

The arts add twice as much to the US economy than the agriculture industry. Sarah Cascone,
March 27, 2018 The arts contribute more than you might expect to the US economy, says a new joint report from the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts. The arts generate $763.6 billion per year, or 4.2 percent of the GDP, according to the study, which presents statistics gathered between 1998 and 2015. The US also exported $20 billion more in art than it imported, providing a positive trade balance. All told, the 4.9 million people employed in America’s creative industries earned $372 billion in total compensation for 2015. “The robust data present in the [report] show through hard evidence how and where arts and culture contribute value to the economies of communities throughout the nation,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu in a statement. “The data confirm that the arts play a meaningful role in our daily lives, including through the jobs we have, the products we purchase, and the experiences we share.” A map showing the percentages of state economies that are made up by arts and culture. Arts Industries Add $764 Billion Per Year to the US Economy, Says a Landmark New Study

thumbnail courtesy of artnet.com