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Supporting culture today and in the future

Our culture here doesn’t just fuel our individual creativity, knowledge, and appreciation for the magic in life. It also makes an amazing social and economic contribution to our metro region.

During this difficult time, the SCFD helps cultural organizations survive and continue to provide the wonder we need. It creates needed jobs, adds to our regional economy and helps to build our economic base.

Without SCFD, we would lose the lifeblood of our cultural community. And during these uncertain times, we need to know that arts, culture and science will be stay healthy into the future.

Our Cultural Partner, CBCA, conducts a biennial study on the economic impact of the cultural sector.

In 2019, here’s what SCFD funded organizations contributed in overall impact.

Graphic explaining the impact of SCFD in 2020 with data: 13,392 creative sector jobs, 4 million children engaged, $2.3 billion in economic activity, 100+ cultural events that are free/reduced price, 15 million people served, 30+ years of voter approval, $64 million in stabilizing funding during pandemic shutdown in 2020 — What’s the impact of SCFD? 13,392 creative sector jobs, 15 million people served, 4 million children engaged, 30+ years of voter approval, 2.3 billion in economic activity, 100+ cultural events are free or reduced price, $64 million in stabilizing funding during pandemic shutdown in 2020, and 300+ organizations funded!

But pandemic impacts created real challenges for organizations in 2020 including drops in economic activity, jobs and event attendance to name just a few.

Graphic demonstrating indicators for cultural organizations that dropped during the pandemic shutdown: economic activity was down 34%, jobs were down 28%, economic impact was down 49%, and attendance was down 49% — During the pandemic shutdown in 2020, most key indicators for cultural organizations dropped: 34% decrease in economic activity, 28% decrease in jobs, 49% decrease in economic impact and 49% decrease in attendance.

But one area, near and dear to the SCFD, increased ensuring that arts and culture organizations can survive and, in the future, thrive.

A graphic explaining positive data for the cultural sector during the pandemic shutdown: Giving to the Arts hit its highest level at $225 million
SCFD delivered an additional $64 million in stabilizing funding — Pandemic bright spot: only two indicators increased for cultural organizations during the pandemic shutdown. Giving to the arts hit its highest level at $225 million and SCFD delivered an additional $64 million in stabilizing funding.

This report is based on the data provided by SCFD funded organizations. You can read the full CBCA economic activity study at cbca.org (opens in new tab).