Independent Economic Impact Study Reveals Significant Benefit To City And State From First PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
AUGUST 3, 2011
Underscoring organizers’ initial findings, the results of the independent economic impact study commissioned by the
Conducted by Philadelphia-based Urban Partners, which has compiled similar economic impact reports for such organizations as GPTMC and the Philadelphia Museum of Art among others, the study found that PIFA 2011 generated the following noteworthy impacts across the region:
· Attracted 404,600 visitors to festival Core Events (the 135 events that were uniquely commissioned or presented by or for PIFA and for the purpose of the study, were designated as “Core Events”), including approximately 170,000 visitors who live outside Philadelphia and came to the City specifically to attend PIFA events
· Generated a total economic impact of $55.74 million within the
· Supported 710 full-time equivalent jobs, 590 of which were located within
· Produced a total tax benefit of $4.13 million to both city and state, including:
Ø $2.10 million in tax revenue for the City of
Ø $2.03 million in tax revenue for the
· Generated the booking of approximately 13,000 hotel room nights in
· In total, the expenditures to undertake the Festival (both contracted and organizational) were approximately $9.7 million (at the time of this study) — indicating that the overall economic activity generated for the City and the Commonwealth due to PIFA 2011 was nearly six (6) times the cost of the Festival.
Stated Kimmel Center President and CEO Anne Ewers, “I am delighted that our early findings were consistent with the results of the Urban Partners’ study, and that the success of PIFA 2011 did indeed exceed our original goals and expectations, bringing considerable economic benefit to both
Continued PIFA Executive Director Ed Cambron, “What is so gratifying is that while one of our goals was to showcase the vibrant collaborations of
“The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts is a shining example of what the arts community can accomplish,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “This Spring, the eyes of the region were on
Meryl Levitz, President and CEO of GPTMC added, “Events such as the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts are what we call ‘destination definers.’ They tell our story to visitors and residents alike giving them wonderful reasons to stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants and buy tickets to our visual and performing arts. PIFA’s success reinforces
“PIFA was a great opportunity to promote to potential international travelers the ingenuity and depth of performing arts options available in the
The study itself focused on various key elements of the festival, including Programming (Festival Events); Festival Expenditures vs. Audience Spending and event revenues; and Audience / Attendee totals. What follows is a breakdown of the study elements and the results.
Programming:
In all, PIFA 2011 featured 181 different performances, attractions, and exhibits – many of which ran on multiple dates and times. Of those, 135 events were uniquely commissioned or presented by or for PIFA and thus, for the purpose of the study, designated as “Core Events,” which fell into seven categories:
1) PIFA South Broad Street events
2) Events at the
3) Performances at the
4) Performances at large off-site venues
5) Performances at small off-site venues
6) Lectures
7) Visual exhibitions
Attendance:
In order to estimate the audiences’ out-of-facility spending habits in the city and the region, a team of surveyors collected direct responses from 2,222 individuals (819 groups) at various events and exhibitions. The following is the estimated attendance for the Core Events for which the study measured economic impact:
· PIFA South Broad Street events: 196,000
·
· Performances @
· Performances @ large off-site venues: 3,700
· Performances @ small off-site venues: 13,400
· Lectures: 2,300
· Visual exhibitions: 18,300
Total Attendance: 404,600
Summary of Economic Impact:
Looking at specific elements including Expenditures, Audience Spending and Local as well as Visitor Attendees, the study was able to track the economic impact of PIFA 2011’s organizational expenditures in presenting the Festival against the greater impact of expenditures by the estimated audience of 404,600 individuals at the 135 Core Events. Visitors directly motivated to come to
Focusing exclusively on those impacts that would not have occurred without PIFA 2011 to attract visitors to the area, the benefit to the Philadelphia region is reflected in the total economic activity calculated at $55.74 million, the creation of 710 full-time equivalent jobs with $20.37 million in salary and wages, and $4.13 million in tax revenues generated for the City and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The overall spending impact of PIFA 2011 was derived from interrelated components:
· The direct organizational expenditures for PIFA 2011, especially the portion of economic activity that occurred in the
· The significant spending of PIFA 2011 visitors in the City as a direct result of their attendance at the festival.
These two components constitute the direct economic impact of PIFA 2011. An important third impact—the indirect economic activity stimulated by this direct spending—can also be traced through the regional economy. In total, the direct and indirect economic impact of PIFA 2011 is $55.74 million, and the total expenditures to undertake the Festival (both contracted and organizational) were approximately $9.7 million — indicating that the overall economic activity generated for the City and the Commonwealth due to PIFA 2011 was nearly six (6) times the cost of the Festival.
Economic Impact of PIFA 2011 for the
Direct Economic Impact
Organizational Expenditure Impact $ 9.81
Audience Spending (Outside Venue) $ 19.00
Total Direct Economic Impact in Region $ 28.81
Indirect Economic Impact
Indirect Impact of Organizational Expenditures $ 10.59
Indirect Impact of Audience Spending (Outside Venue) $ 16.34
Total Indirect Economic Impact $ 26.93
Total Economic Impact $ 55.74
The full PIFA 2011 Economic Impact Study can be accessed via request to PIFA Executive Director Ed Cambron at ecambron@kimmelcenter.org or by phone at 215.790.5893. For further press information on PIFA or media interviews, please contact Rhashidah Perry-Jones at 215.790.7173 or rperryjones@kimmelcenter.org or Dafni Comerota at 215.790.5847 or ddcomerota@kimmelcenter.org.
Urban Partners is a Philadelphia-based consulting firm that has substantial experience in completing economic impact analyses on behalf of cultural institutions and other non-profit cultural and tourism organizations in the
Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA 2011, April 7-May 1), inspired by the Kimmel Center, launched the city's art and cultural scene onto the world stage with a three week festival offering performances, exhibits and events for loyal fans and casual attendees. Based on the philosophy of collaboration, innovation and creativity, PIFA's programs represent every arts discipline and include more than 100 partners. Offerings include newly commissioned works, classical performances and exhibits, surprising partnerships featuring local and international artists and exciting explorations of traditional, non-traditional, new and emerging art forms. In homage to the artistic energy of
Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the
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