Buncombe County’s Arts Sector Generates $51.2M and Fuels Community Well-Being: AEP6 Summary

The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) Study, conducted by Americans for the Arts and coordinated locally by ArtsAVL, highlights the powerful economic and social impact of Buncombe County’s nonprofit arts and culture sector in fiscal year 2022.

Despite ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the arts continued to drive significant economic activity in the region—supporting jobs, generating tax revenue, and fostering deep community engagement.

Key Economic Findings (FY2022):

• $51.25 million in total economic activity
• $25.3M from nonprofit arts and culture organizations
• $25.9M from audience spending related to arts events
• 1,249 local jobs supported (883 by organizations, 366 by audiences)
• $42 million in household income generated
• $1.7M in local tax revenue and $2.5M in state tax revenue
• $8.7M in federal tax revenue contributed

Arts Attendance & Spending:

• Nearly 800,000 in-person attendees participated in arts and culture events
• 77% local, 23% non-local
• Audiences spent an average of $33.86 per person, per event, with non-locals spending more than twice as much
• Nonprofit arts audiences spent a total of $25.9 million, benefiting local restaurants, lodging, retail, and services

Social Impact & Community Sentiment:

In addition to its economic contributions, the arts sector also demonstrated strong social value:

• 88% of surveyed attendees said the arts inspire pride in their community
• 87% said they would feel a great sense of loss if arts activities disappeared
• 86% attend to help preserve the arts for future generations
• 80% view arts venues as a pillar of their community

These findings underscore that arts and culture in Buncombe County are not just economic drivers—they are essential to civic identity, quality of life, and social connection.

About the Study:

AEP6 is the largest and most comprehensive economic and social impact study of the U.S. nonprofit arts and culture industry. The 2023 study included 373 communities across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. In Buncombe County, 62 organizations and 1,442 audience members contributed data to the local study.

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