Talking Points: Why Are The Arts Important To Maryland?

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Arts advocates should be prepared to tell legislators the arts story in their districts, among their constituents.  Look at these general points and make it real for them! Also, remind them of MCA’s “Arts Step Up for State Employees” Program of free and discounted tickets to arts exhibitions, performances, and events for the furloughed state employees.

In a competitive, twenty-first century global environment, the arts support:

Education

  • Support quality education for our school children by raising academic achievement, fostering positive work ethic, and improving attendance.
  • Specifically, the arts positively impact
    • developmental growth of every child
    • attendance and graduation rates among school children
    • delinquency and truancy among youth at risk

Economic Development

  • Build communities that will attract and retain an educated, creative workforce.
  • Raise the regional, national, and international visibility of Maryland.
  • Attract cultural tourists to the State.
  • Drive much needed economic development.
  • Provide job growth, foster consumer spending, and generate tax revenues.
  • Specifically, in 2007, the most recent year for which we have statistics:
    • The arts provided 15,184 Marylanders full time jobs.
    • 14 million people attended Maryland arts events.
    • Together, arts operations and audience spending generated a total of
    • $556 million in direct spending and a total economic impact of $1.2 billion.
    • Every dollar of direct spending on the arts generates $2.13 in expenditures
      on goods and services.
    • The arts generated $43 million in state and local taxes.

Quality of Life

  • Enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.
  • Celebrate the rich diversity of our cultural achievements.