Valley Part of National Arts Economy Survey

Tom Giffey |

BACKSTAGE BOP. UW-Eau Claire alum John Raymond, far right, led his trio, the Real Feels, during a Jan. 24 backstage concert at the State Theatre. The Eau Claire Regional Arts Council, which operates the State Theatre, is leading the local portion of a nationwide survey of the economic impact of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.
BACKSTAGE BOP. UW-Eau Claire alum John Raymond, far left, led his trio, the Real Feels, during a Jan. 24 backstage concert at the State Theatre. The Eau Claire Regional Arts Council, which operates the State Theatre, is leading the local portion of a nationwide survey of the economic impact of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.

The Chippewa Valley’s arts community will again be part of a nationwide survey measuring the economic impact of the nonprofit arts sector. The Eau Claire Regional Arts Council will be one of nearly 300 partners in the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, a nationwide study conducted by Americans for the Arts. ECRAC will gather financial data from local nonprofit arts and cultural organizations – such as theater groups, museums, and festivals – as well as conduct short, anonymous surveys with patrons about how much they spend on meals, shopping, lodging, etc., when they are enjoying arts-related events. Eau Claire was one of the communities surveyed in the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV study in 2010. That year’s study found that the major nonprofit arts and cultural groups in the county spent $2.8 million annually and that their audiences spent a roughly equal amount for a total economic impact of $5.6 million. “People in the Chippewa Valley have proven to be strong supporters of the arts,” said Ben Richgruber, executive director of ECRAC. “This study will show in greater detail the many ways that the creative economy – and specifically the nonprofit arts sector – creates jobs, generates government revenue, and supports tourism.” Back in 2010, the survey examined the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Museum, the Chippewa Valley Symphony, the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, Eau Claire Children’s Theatre, the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, and the UW-Eau Claire Artist Series; Richgruber said it will likely include even more nonprofit groups this time around. Surveys will be conducted throughout 2016, and results will be available in June 2017.