JULY 6, 2017 // 21
Local arts benefit Clatsop County
Study says arts, culture brings in millions in
household income, supports hundreds of jobs
By KAELIA NEAL
FOR COAST WEEKEND
A
study reveals the
nonprofit arts-and-cul-
ture sector was a $13.7
million industry in 2015 for
Clatsop County, generating
almost $1.3 million in local
and state government revenue
and $6.7 million in household
income for local residents,
while supporting 359 full-
time equivalent jobs.
The 2016 Arts & Eco-
nomic Prosperity 5 study was
conducted by Americans for
the Arts to document the eco-
nomic impact of the nonprofit
arts and culture industry in
341 communities and regions
nationwide, according to its
website.
The Arts Council of Clat-
sop County, formed in 2014,
conducted the Clatsop County
study.
“This survey was suggest-
ed to help us get a handle on
what we were trying to ac-
complish,” said Robin Risley,
Cannon Beach representative
for the Arts Council of Clat-
sop County.
“Our goal was trying to
find a way to quantify the
arts,” said photographer
Don Frank, Chair of the Arts
Council of Clatsop County
and Seaside representative.
“We actually put a value to it,
which shows it’s contribution
to the community in dollars.”
This was the first time
that rural areas participated;
therefore, this was Clatsop
County’s first time conducting
this study.
“At the time, I didn’t know
what to expect. I’m pleased
the results show what a lot of
us believe,” Frank said. “It’s
not just being a painter or a
potter,” he continued. “There
are almost 400 jobs in the
county for non-artists that the
arts and the supporters of the
arts help create.”
PHOTO BY ERICK BENGEL
Robin Risley
FACEBOOK.COM
Don Frank
Representatives of the Arts
Council of Clatsop County,
including Astoria representa-
tive Dwight Caswell, said it
is important to note that only
nonprofit arts and cultural
organizations participated in
this study. If for-profit organi-
zations were also included, he
said, it would be a “reason-
able assumption” to say the
figures in the findings would
be at least double.
“We’re no longer just a
fishing and logging area.
Arts are making an impact,”
Caswell, a photographer and
Coast Weekend contributor,
said.
Of the 27 nonprofit arts
and culture organizations in
Clatsop County, 22 partic-
ipated in the study. Among
them were Cannon Beach
Arts Association, Astoria
Visual Arts and the Seaside
Museum & Historical Society.
Seven hundred eighty-seven
audience-intercept surveys
were collected from attendees
to nonprofit arts and cultural
events, exhibitions and perfor-
mances.
In every category the study
analyzed, Clatsop County was
above average compared to
the median of similar regions.
Of the 22 nonprofit arts
and culture organizations, the
aggregate attendance to their
events was 160,816 during
2015, and of those attendees,
the total audience expendi-
tures for events related to
the organizations was $10.8
million, excluding the cost of
FILE PHOTO
Dwight Caswell
admission.
The study also reveals
that tourism has a positive
economic impact on Clatsop
County. Total event-related
expenditures for nonresidents
was $8.4 million while local
residents was $2.3 million.
“Nonresident attendees spent
an average of 327 percent
more per person than local
attendees,” according to the
study.
“We didn’t have any idea
at all what the results would
be, because there’s so many
different areas of the commu-
nity,” Risley said. “I think the
art culture in the whole county
is pretty lively right now.”
Risley said she hopes that,
with the survey results, com-
munity members will know
the real value of what the arts
bring to Clatsop County.
Caswell said art “improves
the culture of the area” and
“makes more opportunities
for enrichment for our lives.”
In 2015, the Arts &
Economic Prosperity 5 found
that the nonprofit arts industry
generated $166.3 billion of
economic activity nationwide,
according to the Clatsop
study. A result of that was
$27.5 billion generated in rev-
enue to local, state and federal
governments while supporting
4.6 million jobs.
“What I love about the arts
is that it’s an expression of
ideas,” Frank said. “It’s a di-
alogue that is happening, and
it’s really strong in Clatsop
County.” CW
Continued from Page 4
Carr has served in
various volunteer roles —
actor, janitor, set painter,
stagehand — and even di-
rected “Junior Shanghaied”
for kids, “Sleeping Beauty”
and “The Jungle Book.”
“The beauty of commu-
nity theater is that everyone
gets involved. Theater lets
you think on your feet and
act independently but also
within a group,” Carr said.
“And when you nail it on
stage, there is nothing like
hearing the applause. Noth-
ing like it.”
New visions
Dena Tuving, an Astor
Street veteran and the com-
pany’s new board president,
is another volunteer who
has helped keep the theater
alive.
Tuving acts in the show
as well, sharing the role of
“Vivian” with Patricia “Tr-
ish” Von Vintage. Doubling
up certain roles — some-
PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX
The 2015 cast of “Shanghaied in Astoria” lets out a cheer on stage.
times even triple casting
them — prevents the actors
from getting burned out
during the 10-week season.
Asked what keeps her
involved, Tuving said: “The
people.”
“It’s a family. It’s the
arts — the right brain /
left brain outlet,” she said.
“We need the arts in our
community.”
The company has new
leadership and fresh ideas,
and hopes to diversify its
productions, Brown said.
“But ‘Shanghaied’ will
always be the backbone of
this theater.”
The show runs through
Saturday, Sept. 9, with
performances Thursday
through Saturday, and a few
Sunday matinées. For more
information, visit astorstree-
toprycompany.com. CW
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Visit Downtown Astoria on the
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