“The arts attract people, which attracts business, which all help to build the tax revenue for a city. It's a beautiful circle of life with arts and culture as a main part of it all.” - Forbes
Sponsoring The Arts Builds Business
by Henry Kurkowski
for Forbes
When it comes to sponsoring the arts, corporate partnerships are a mainstay. Many believe that companies engage in this type of support because of the fundamental value that the arts bring to a community. However, the reasoning behind corporate sponsorship of the arts goes far beyond just that goal. When a company invests in the arts, it is in fact working toward ensuring its own financial health and success as a business. At the end of the day, sponsoring the arts builds business. Let's take a look at how this works.
The Financial Impact Of The Arts
To understand how the arts and cultural industries build business in their communities, we need to have a good understanding of the financial impact of the arts. According to a report, U.S. arts and cultural economic activity had impressive growth in 2016, adding about $60 billion more to the U.S. economy than the construction industry added. In the same year, the arts industry contributed nearly five times more to the American economy than the agricultural sector did.
Those facts alone should be eye-openers, but add to that the realization that the $804 billion the arts contributed to the U.S. GDP in 2016 is more than half of the entire GDP of Canada or Russia. The GDP for Canada was $1.536 trillion in 2016, while in Russia it stood at $1.285 trillion.
What’s more, the financial impact of the arts on the U.S. economy is more than the entire 2016 GDP for countries such as Saudi Arabia ($645 billion), Switzerland ($669 billion) or the Netherlands ($777 billion). It’s been said that the arts mean big business, but the facts show that the arts mean huge business.
The Power Of The Arts To Build Business
Community leaders have been leveraging the economic power of the arts and creative industries to revitalize rural communities.
The National Governors Association, working in partnership with national arts agencies, published "Rural Prosperity Through the Arts & Creative Sector: A Rural Action Guide for Governors and States" to help rural communities overcome economic challenges specific to their areas, such as outmigration, lack of educational opportunities and lack of infrastructure. The guidebook provides suggestions for helping these communities thrive by offering action plans that assist them in growing and harnessing their own arts and cultural assets.
Just to sum that up: The National Governors Association is giving states proven strategies for economically disadvantaged rural areas that will build businesses and create economic opportunities to thrive by partnering with the arts.
Our sponsors
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Mississippi Arts Commission
Mississippi Arts Commission invests in our state’s makers through a variety of grant programs supporting nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and individual artists.
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Visit Mississippi
Mississippi is a state for all those who are wanderers at heart. Click below for inspiration to help you plan your next adventure.
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City of Natchez
For over 300 years this Jewel of the Mississippi, the oldest city, perched on the highest bluff on the Great River, has been welcoming visitors from all over the world. We pay tribute to all who have come before us…
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Mississippi Humanities Council
Interpreting our history and culture. Fostering Civil Conversations. Enriching communities.
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Concordia Bank
Since 1903, Concordia Bank
has continually provided you with the best in banking products. Our approach to doing banking is simple – provide banking products our customers want with hometown customer service.
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Crye-Leike Stedman Ulmer Realtors
Providing real estate services in Natchez, MS and the surrounding areas.
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Country Roads Magazine
Country Roads is a cultural reporting publication focusing on South Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta, and the Gulf Coast. Published continuously since 1983, Country Roads magazine helps its readers to make the most of life.
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Listen Up Y'All Media
If it’s happening…it’s here.
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Home Bank
Good for business good for life
It's our standard.
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Craig Sanders Allstate
Craig Sanders is insurance licensed in the state(s) of Louisiana and Mississippi.
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Pig Out Inn
The best BBQ Natchez has to offer! Smoked to perfection in our custom built pit to ensure every piece of meat we serve brings ALL the flavor!
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United Mississippi Bank
We are more than a company. We are advisors, consultants, problem solvers, friends, community members, and we are here to help you make the best of every moment with a financial foundation that can help you succeed.
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Conde Contemporary
Conde Contemporary is a fine art gallery established in Miami, 2013, and currently located in Natchez, MS. COCO provides art consulting services for private collectors, public collections as well as commercial and residential projects.
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Natchez Olive Market
A specialty food market with tastings from a broad spectrum of high quality infused Olive Oils and Balsamic at affordable prices, imported cheeses, assorted charcuterie, a wide selection of gourmet food items and the new home Natchez Grazing Co.
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Sports Center
Sports Center is a 3rd generation family-owned business specializing in top brands across all sporting activities. We are a huge part of the Natchez community, where we've served generations of families for over 50 years, and we employ more than 50 people from the community, a number of whom have worked with us for over 30 years.
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Hallelujah Wine and Spirits
Boutique Wine & Spirits experience in Historic Downtown Natchez #putthesipinmississippi
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Natchez Adams County Chamber of Commerce
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Downtown Natchez Alliance
The Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) is a non-profit entity organized to advance Downtown Natchez as a vibrant commercial and cultural district consistent with the city’s award-winning Downtown Master Plan and the national Main Street Approach, a time-tested framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization of historic downtowns.
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Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton
At Hampton, we consistently go the extra mile to deliver the exceptional stay you deserve. Intuitively designed for both function and comfort, it's our priority to give you a seamless, best in class experience – every time. That's the 100% Hampton Guarantee.
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Delta Bank
Our heritage has been to provide innovative banking products with unique home town service and attention to customers.
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Absolute Charm
You cannot deny the magic of historic towns that reflect the old-world charm. You get the opportunity to step back in time while appreciating the gems of a colorful past. It also gives us a chance to step away from the glamour and bustle of our fast-paced lives to experience something serene, laid-back, and charming in its unique way. This is how you’ll feel if you visit gorgeous Natchez, located on the Mississippi River. To make the trip extra special, you can stay at Nacthez vacation rentals at Absolute Charm and enjoy the area like a local.
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Gahagan Law Firm
Nationally recognized immigration attorney Michael Gahagan has built an impressive track record in federal immigration litigation, deportation defense and family immigration for clients throughout the United States and the world.
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NAPAC
Giving you our story, through our eyes, and the lives of those who came before us.
