Metro Denver’s arts, cultural and scientific organizations generated a record $1.85 billion in economic activity in 2013 and are close to reclaiming job counts seen before the recession, according to a report Friday from the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts.
The CBCA, which has conducted an economic-activity study since 1992, surveyed the nearly 300 organizations in the seven-county metro area participating in the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.
Since 1989, the SCFD has distributed funds to numerous cultural organizations from a sales tax that will be up for a reauthorization vote in 2016.
The study found that economic activity generated directly and indirectly by the groups is up 5.1 percent from 2011, the last period studied.
The groups had $820 million in operating expenditures and $105 million in capital expenditures. The operating number includes $150.7 million spent directly on payroll and employment expenses, an increase of 4 percent from 2011.
Employment totaled 10,205, up 9.1 percent from 2011, and is approaching the peak of 10,770 jobs reported in the 2005 study.
The number of volunteers, however, dropped nearly 12 percent, from 50,460 in 2011 to 44,438 in 2013, the study found.
The groups reported attendance of 14.2 million, up 4.4 percent from 2011’s adjusted counts but .
Of that attendance number, 5.2 million represented free admissions and 4.25 million represented reduced-rate entrance fees. The groups reported a 17 percent surge in out-of-state visits from 2011 to 2013.
The “MythBusters” and “Mammoths & Mastodons” exhibits at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, as well as the rise in popularity of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, the Clyfford Still Museum, Fiesta Colorado and the Colorado Chautauqua Association in Boulder, were important contributors to the attendance gains, the report said.
The SCFD-backed groups received $167 million in contributions, including $46.4 million from the SCFD tax, $29.2 million from foundations, $23.9 million from individual donations and $10.4 million from corporate gifts, among other sources.
The CBCA will present the results of its study at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on Friday morning.
Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410, asvaldi@denverpost.com or twitter.com/aldosvaldi
Artful economics
Metro Denver’s arts, cultural and scientific organizations generated more than $1.85 billion in direct and indirect economic impacts last year.
Year, Economic activity
2013, $1.85 billion
2011, $1.76 billion
2009, $1.46 billion
2007, $1.69 billion
2005, $1.4 billion
2003, $1.3 billion
2001, $1.1 billion
1999, $644 million
1997, $646 million
1995, $501 million
1992, $461 million
Source: Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
