The Texas Cultural Trust (TCT) today unveiled the 2017 State of the Arts report that highlights the impact of the arts on the state of Texas. The report was released in conjunction with Arts Advocacy Day at the Texas Legislature, which is hosted by Texans for the Arts. Newly released data shows the arts delivered record contributions to the state’s economy in terms of jobs and sales tax revenue generated, and travel and tourism dollars collected. Additionally, the report highlights key findings from a recent statewide poll on Texas parents’ overwhelmingly positive attitudes on arts education, and statewide data on the availability of arts education in every public school in Texas. 

“We know the arts are important to our culture and our society, and this report affirms they are increasingly important to our economy as well,” said Judy Robison, TCT Chair. “The arts generate an impactful $5.5 billion for Texas, bringing jobs and economic opportunity to every corner of the state. We are also pleased to highlight the importance of arts education in preparing our students for success in school and in life.”

The economic results, compiled from state and federal data sets, highlight how the Art and Culture Industries generate $5.5 billion for Texas’ economy, up from $5.1 billion in the 2015 Report. The arts contribute nearly $343.7 million in state sales tax revenue annually and our state's creative sector employs one in 15 Texans – nearly 800,000 innovation workers. Texas creative sector employment is projected to increase by 20% or 160,000 net new jobs by 2024.  

“At the Texas Cultural Trust, we are passionate about spotlighting the artistic excellence of our state – not just on stage or in a gallery, but in business and education as well,” said Jennifer Ransom Rice, Trust Executive Director. “The arts mean business in Texas, and help prepare a well-educated workforce for our 21st Century creative economy. The arts provide a pipeline from K12 through career, for a prosperous, successful Texas.”

Local tax rates differ across the state, but using an average sales tax rate of 1.0 percent, the Arts and Culture Industry generated $34.6 million in 2015 for the five largest metro areas in Texas. 

Metro Area                                                               Taxable Sales                        

Austin-Round Rock                                              $502,195,150   

Dallas-Plano-Irving                                                $1,267,565,172

Fort Worth-Arlington                                          $332,935,945

Houston-Sugarland-Baytown                         $1,025,314,133

San Antonio                                                               $330,844,451

-More-

The report also details the impact of the arts on Texas’ travel and tourism industry, which surpassed $68.7 billion in 2015. Cultural and arts tourists stay longer, bring more people, and spend more than the average tourist. Travel-generated employment in the state account for 648,000 jobs with earnings in excess of $23.7 billion.

The 2017 State of the Arts Report builds on 2015 data that investigated the impact that arts education has on Texas students. The research demonstrated that arts education results in increased passing rates, higher test scores, and improved attendance. This year, the Trust built on that data to understand the availability of arts courses in our public schools. The resulting data is featured in a new campaign, Art Can and housed on an interactive website, www.ArtCanTexas.org. The site includes information on three separate aspects of arts access including arts credits earned, certified arts teachers, and the variety of arts courses offered in each public school district in the state. The Art Can campaign is funded by the Houston Endowment and made possible in part through a partnership with the Texas Association of Broadcasters. 

Additionally, the report includes results from a statewide poll that gauged the opinions of Texas parents on arts education. The poll results affirm that Texas parents value arts education and want their children to have more access to it. In fact, nine out of 10 Texas parents support increased funding for the arts in their school—and 89 percent believe that art and music electives are as important as athletics. 

“We hope state and local policymakers leverage this data and look for new ways to increase access to arts education—for all Texas children—to improve educational outcomes across the board,” said Ransom Rice. 

The report and a variety of educational materials are available for download and distribution at http://txculturaltrust.org/invest-in-the-arts/.