Economic Activity Study

CBCA’s Economic Activity Study of Denver Metro Culture is a biennial report that quantifies the economic contributions that arts and culture make on the Denver metro area. In collaboration with Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), CBCA has been demonstrating the social and financial impact of the arts on our region for three decades.

Read the latest study

CBCA’s latest Economic Activity Study of Metro Denver Culture, presented by U.S. Bank, quantifies the financial and social impact of arts, cultural and scientific organizations funded by SCFD in the 2022 calendar year. This study illustrates the recovery process from the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in economic activity related to the Metro Denver cultural sector since 1993, when the first report was published.

Download the Summary in English and Spanish

Read the comprehensive whitepaper, written by BBC Research & Consulting

Read the press release

  • Record-Breaking Recovery – Economic activity generated by the cultural sector in the Metro Denver area reached a new record-level high in 2022, indicating a rapid recovery from the pandemic. The ripple effect from direct and indirect spending on operations, audience engagement and capital projects has significantly influenced the regional economy.

 

  • Historic Federal Investment – The economic impact of federal funding to arts, cultural and scientific organizations increased dramatically due to unprecedented pandemic-specific relief efforts. These programs injected crucial, one-time funds into Colorado to spur recovery and ensure the community continues to benefit from these organizations.

 

  • Workforce Impact – Employment at arts, cultural and scientific organizations also reached a new high in 2022, with the largest increases being in full-time and contract jobs. Additionally, total personnel expenses increased even more from 2019 to 2022.

 

  • Attendance & Outreach – Despite a 65% increase over 2020, in-person arts and culture attendance and outreach to students did not fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. However, attendance from international patrons surpassed 2019.

 

  • Support for the Arts – Contributions to arts, cultural and scientific organizations broke records in 2022, including a new high for individual giving and government funding. Foundation and corporate giving also exceeded pre-pandemic levels, but remain volatile as priorities shift. SCFD was the largest single funding source for arts, cultural and scientific organizations, consistently providing stability and momentum.

 

Media Coverage:

 

CBCA welcomes the opportunity to speak to your organization about this Study and share this information. Please submit this request form or contact CBCA at main@cbca.org to learn more or schedule a presentation.

Thank you to the Presenting Sponsor, U.S. Bank, for making this report and the roll-out event possible, as well as appreciation to all the sponsors: Pinnacol Assurance, East West Partners, VISIT DENVER, Amazon, Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and  Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Thank you to the in-kind partners for supporting the study and roll-out event: The Publishing House and Denver Art Museum.