Florida Department of State and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Team Up to Highlight the Economic Impact of Arts and Culture at State of the Arts Event

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

The Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, with the support of PNC Bank, today are hosting the 2017 State of the Arts conference to highlight the recent results of Americans for the Arts’ latest study Arts and Economic Prosperity 5, which illustrates a $4.68 billion statewide economic impact of Florida’s diverse arts and culture industry, and to cover strategies for using the results in advocacy efforts. More than 200 people have registered to attend some or all of State of the Arts. 

The day-long conference includes workshops, panel discussions and featured speakers including Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, award-winning artist Lily Yeh and Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche. The event is the first stop on the department’s Arts and Economic Prosperity tour around the state.

“The Florida Department of State is thrilled to kick off our Arts and Economic Prosperity tour in Jacksonville where there is a thriving arts and culture industry and immense support from the local community,” said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. “Not only do arts and culture contribute to our quality of life, but the industry attracts tourists, supports jobs and local businesses, generates government revenue and household income and helps to grow our economy. We are proud to partner with the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville to celebrate and spread the word about the importance of not-for-profit arts and culture in every corner of the Sunshine State.”

The 2017 State of the Arts event kicks off at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce with Secretary Ken Detzner, Mayor Lenny Curry and Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis. Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs Director Sandy Shaughnessy is presenting on the Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 results and how to best use the results in local advocacy efforts. According to the report, the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Florida generates $4.68 billion in total economic activity, supports 132,366 full-time jobs and delivers $492.3 million in local and state government revenue.

“The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville is honored to partner with the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs and PNC Bank to host State of the Arts,” said Tony Allegretti, Executive Director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. “Events like this are key to bringing the arts and culture community together so that we can network, collaborate and share best practices as we work towards a common goal of an even stronger, more robust arts and culture industry in Jacksonville and throughout the state.”

The conference also includes a luncheon at the Jesse Ball duPont Center with welcoming remarks by Jacksonville City Council President Anna Brosche and keynote speaker Lily Yeh, an award winning artist, published author of Awakening Creativity and a community change-agent focused on using the arts to bring healing, self-empowerment and social change to communities around the globe. During the lunch, the winners of the 2017 PNC Arts Alive grants will also be announced. Through PNC Arts Alive, $60,000 in grants will be awarded to arts organizations in Jacksonville.

The afternoon sessions include a panel discussion on activating art partnerships and the private sector, and a reception at Hyperion Brewing Company.

The Florida Department of State’s Arts and Economic Prosperity tour will continue with stops in Orlando, Miami, Tallahassee and Pensacola in the coming months.

For more information on State of the Arts, please visit CulturalCouncil.org/sota.

To view the Arts and Economic Prosperity 5: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Organizations and Their Audiences in the State of Florida report, please click here.

For more information on the Division of Cultural Affairs, please visit dos.myflorida.com/cultural.

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About the Division of Cultural Affairs
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs is Florida’s legislatively designated state arts agency. The Division promotes the arts and culture as essential to quality of life for all Floridians. To achieve its mission, the Division funds and supports cultural programs that provide artistic excellence, diversity, education, access and economic vitality for Florida’s communities. For more information, visit dos.myflorida.com/cultural.