The Arts Council Santa Cruz County just spilled the beans about how much money the arts bring to our town. It’s not just about painting and singing; it’s also about some serious cash flowing around. Let’s dive into the details!
Big Bucks in the Arts: Breaking Down the Numbers
Alright, buckle up for the cool stuff. So, there’s this big study called Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), and it tells us that our artsy pals in Santa Cruz County made a massive $68 million in 2022. How? Well, it’s like this: the groups doing arts and culture stuff spent around $54,469,219. And get this – the people who went to those events tossed in another $13,698,812. That’s a whole bunch of money, right?
And it’s not just about the cash; it’s also about jobs. Thanks to all this artsy action, 1,437 people got jobs. Yep, you heard it right – over a thousand folks got paychecks because of the cool artsy things happening here. Plus, the arts brought in a whopping $23,419,197 for our government. That’s money that can help make our town even more awesome.
Local Flavor: Santa Cruz County vs. Watsonville
But hold on, we’re not done yet. The Arts Council didn’t stop at counting dollars county-wide. They zoomed in on the cities – Santa Cruz and Watsonville – to see how the arts are making a splash in each place.
Santa Cruz takes the lead with a whopping $38 million in economic impact. That’s a lot of moolah making its way around our city thanks to the artsy vibes. Now, let’s hop on over to Watsonville. They had an impact too, but it was a bit less, hanging out at less than $9 million. Still pretty cool, right?
North vs. South: The Economic Divide
Now, here’s a juicy bit. Some folks noticed there’s a bit of a gap between the north (Santa Cruz) and the south (Watsonville). It’s like the artsy party is throwing a bigger bash up north, and not everyone got the same invite down south.
This difference in money shows there’s a bit of inequality happening when it comes to the arts’ economic impact. But hey, realizing it is the first step to figuring out how to spread the love evenly, right?
Closing Act: Celebrating the Arts and Planning for More
So, there you have it – the arts in Santa Cruz County aren’t just about making pretty things; they’re also bringing in loads of cash and jobs. The Arts Council’s study shines a spotlight on how powerful the arts can be, from the big picture county scene to the special vibes in Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Now that we know the impact, let’s cook up some plans to make sure everyone gets a piece of the artsy economic pie. Who wouldn’t want more art and more dollars in the mix? Time to celebrate!
