Maryland: Evaluating the Impact of Cultural Districts

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) recently released an assessment of the economic and fiscal impact of the state’s Arts & Entertainment Districts program. Conducted by the Towson University Regional Economic Studies Institute, the analysis finds that Maryland’s 19 certified arts districts supported more than 1,600 jobs and nearly $50 million in wages on average annually between FY2008 and FY2010. The study further showed that the districts supported an annual average of $147.3 million in state gross domestic product and a total tax revenue impact of approximately $37.6 million. Data on new businesses formed, visitor spending and property tax estimates are also included. For more about the study, contact MSAC’s Pamela Dunne.