Arts study shows $14.7 million economic impact to Pendleton

Local report part of nationwide study

Pendleton’s Arts and Culture industry generated $14.7 million in economic activity in 2022, according to the results of a new study.

Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is an economic and social impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry. Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 uses a rigorous methodology to document the economic and social contributions of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry.

The Impact Study is led by Americans for the Arts, an Arts support organization in Washington, D.C. Groups across the country conduct the study at the community level, and there were 22 Oregon communities that participated this year, including Pendleton.

“The AEP6 results demonstrate how Pendleton art and cultural activities have a positive economic impact in our town,” local coordinator Stephanie Huffman said. “The arts are a vital part of a healthy economy. Our results show overwhelming appreciation for local arts and cultural events.”

Plans to bring the AEP study to Pendleton started in early 2021.  The Pendleton Development Commission served as community partner, but the program struggled to make headway in the coronavirus pandemic and with coordinator turnover. Charles Denight, PDC associate director, said the survey took off when the deadline was extended until June 23, 2023, and the City of Pendleton hired Huffman to coordinate the project.

“In only a couple of months, Stephanie managed to complete hundreds of surveys, reaching a total of 613,” Denight said. “Although we didn’t make our goal of 800, I considered this to be an extraordinary accomplishment on her part.”

As part of the study, Huffman surveyed people who attended arts and culture events as well as speaking with local nonprofit culture organizations about their finances and spending in the community.

Overall, the study showed the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Pendleton generated $14.7 million in economic activity during 2022—$7.7 million in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $7.0 million in event-related expenditures by their audiences. That economic activity supported 161 jobs, provided $5.9 million in personal income to residents, and generated $1.9 million in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments.

Huffman said the results capture part of the Pendleton experience.

“The data analysis shows how money is spent not only on arts and cultural events but on many related expenses in Pendleton. When people attend a local event, they not only spend money on said event but on related activities, such as child care, food and drinks, and transportation,” she said. “That money is circulated in our community. Additionally, these events provide a large number of jobs for our residents.”

Additional highlights from the Pendleton AEP6 study include:

• In the City of Pendleton, nonprofit arts and culture organizations spent an estimated $$7.7 million which supported 79 jobs and generated $893,001 in local, state, and federal government revenue.
• Event attendees spend an average of $33.50 per person per event, beyond the cost of admission.
• 17.1% of attendees are nonlocal visitors who traveled from outside Umatilla County; they spend an average of $87.26.
• 70.6% of nonlocal attendees reported that the primary purpose of their visit was specifically to attend the performance, event, exhibit, venue, or facility where they were surveyed.
• 92.3% of arts and culture attendees agree that the activity or venue where they were surveyed “is inspiring a sense of pride in this neighborhood or community.”

The Pendleton study –  Arts & Economic Prosperity 6, the Economic and Social Impact Study of Nonprofit Arts & Culture Organizations & Their Audiences in The City of Pendleton – is available at the bottom of this page.

 The nationwide AEP6 report, a map of the 373 study regions, and a two-page economic impact summary for each can be found at AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org.

- November 29, 2023