Planning Stage

	Literature Review Return to Literature Review The Economic Impact of the Arts Industry on Oregon Date 1998 Purpose of Study The purpose of this report was to provide both a thorough look at the arts industry of Oregon and to present the "indirect ways that the arts industry strengthens Oregon's economy" (Anthony Radich and Erin Trapp. The Economic Impact of the Arts in Oregon. (Oregon: Western Arts Federation contracted by the Oregon Arts Commission, 1998, 5). Methodology Local yellow pages were reviewed to get an idea of the number of small arts and crafts businesses. Survey instrument was used to collect data from the non-profit arts organizations. 49 organizations responded to the survey, and the majority of the organizations that responded had budgets of greater than $20,000 but less than $100,000. The Arts Commission's database was used to supplement these findings with inferences of spending, revenue and other data of additional 200 non-profit organizations. Archival data from the National Endowment for the Arts on the number of working artists, broken down into eleven occupational categories throughout the country, and the same information but at the Oregon state level. Data from the Occupational Employment Division of the Oregon Employment Department. The department had conducted a recent study that "illustrates the value of the arts to workforce development." Survey instrument sent to visual artists in Oregon. The report surveyed only visual artists because of an adequate mailing list – 450 surveys mailed with an 18% response rate. Results There are 19,539 artists and artists workers in the state of Oregon and who earn over $196 million annually. The arts industry in Oregon is strong, and includes a thriving small arts and crafts culture. Using multiplier analysis to determine the total economic impact of the spending of non-profit arts organization on Oregon's economy in 1996 came to $183, 016, 370. The study includes six sections that entail either one or both of the aforementioned purposes of the report. The second section, Oregon's Non-Profit Arts Industry: Profile and Economic Impact, includes aggregate data that was compiled from the 49 non-profit arts organizations that responded to a survey instrument and information housed in the various databases of the Oregon Arts Commission. In addition to the aggregate data, the section shows the economic impact from these non-profit arts organization on Oregon's economy. Section five, Profiles of Innovative: Arts-related companies in Oregon, contains seven profiles of for-profit arts related business which contain brief information such as: size of businesses, description, relation to the arts and benefits for the Oregon location. The last section, The Economic Impact of the Arts Industry in Oregon ends by showing a "return on investment" by the state of Oregon establishing and investing in its Arts Commission. It contains facts and figures that depict the Arts Commission as making "a special commitment to ensuring that the arts industry has both the capacity to grow and the resources necessary to adapt to the constantly changing economic and social environment." Assessment The report was completed in 90 days. (While not necessarily a shortcoming, the authors mentioned this fact in the executive summary). Limited use of methodologies that collect current data, and more reliance on archival data. There are no interrelations between each section of the report. The report is an example of a multidimensional report. It does not just focus on the nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Oregon, but includes a section on the arts professionals and for profit arts-related businesses. Return to Literature Review