Project to study economic impact of arts

January 9, 2011 at 12:09a.m.

Groups to discuss economic impact

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

YOUNGSTOWN

A study to gauge the economic impact of arts and entertainment in the region will begin this week.

It will be the first project of The Power of the Arts (TPOA), a committee of local cultural groups.

The committee has invited representatives of every visual- and performing-arts group and venue in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to a meeting at 3 p.m. Monday at the Flad Pavilion of the DeYor Center downtown to discuss the study.

Most of the major players already are on board, including the Youngstown Symphony, Butler Institute of American Art, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Ballet Western Reserve, Youngstown Playhouse and Youngstown State University.

But the committee hopes to attract every arts group in the area, no matter its size, said Patricia Syak of the TPOA advisory committee.

The study will be conducted by Americans for the Arts, a national, nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., and New York. It gathers economic data and presents it to legislators in efforts to gain funding.

It will take more than a year to complete the study, said Syak. The findings, which are expected to be revealed in June 2012, will be used for advocacy and fund-raising efforts.

The $8,500 cost of the study is being split evenly between the Youngstown Foundation and the Wean Foundation, who agreed to fund it.

The study will measure direct and indirect economic impact for each participating group.

Direct impact compiles the total expenditures on staff, payroll, services, utilities and other fixed operating expenses.

Indirect impact measures spending by patrons and includes ticket prices, dinner in restaurants or post-show drinks, parking and even such things as trips to the beauty shop.

Every patron who comes to an event at a participating venue will be asked to do a survey that will take about a minute, said Syak.

“For many years, I’ve believed arts organizations need to tell the community their importance from an economic standpoint, and I’ve campaigned to have this study done,” said Syak. “I’m thrilled that The Power of the Arts has taken it on as their first major project.”

Brian DePoy, dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts at Youngstown State University, and Eric Planey, vice president of International Business Attraction at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, are co-chairmen of TPOA’s advisory committee.