Arts impact in Denver approaches $1.7 billion.

• Author: Beck, Cathie
• Position: The KA-CHING of culture

When Denver Mayor John Hick-enlooper opened the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts breakfast in November, he jumped straight to the largest number arrived at in the CBCA's 2008 Economic Study: $1.691 billion. That's right--nine zeroes.

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The CBCA 2008 Economic Activity Study of Denver Metro Culture, conducted biennially, measures the economic impact of arts and culture in the Denver metro area. Beyond the nearly $1.7 billion in activity reported in 2007, the study also states that more than 16.4 million Coloradans and other visitors attended cultural events in 2007, and that tourism at arts, cultural and scientific institutions generated $331 million.

Even Hickenlooper appeared to work to wrap the numbers around his brain and into his opening remarks. "What's remarkable is not just that number but that the number has roughly doubled in 10 years," he said.

"Other cities look at us as an example," he added. "Not only does this study show that arts is very serious business in Colorado, the study actually measures the economic value of our arts and cultural scene."

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CBCA members already think arts is serious Colorado business. The organization is built of more than 125 companies and individuals committed to the arts and to the link between cultural vitality and business success. For perspective, in 1997, arts and cultural activity generated $823 million.

Ten years ago, the metro arts scene employed 4,688. In 2007, that number leapt to 8,244. Moreover, in 2007, more than 1.1 million residents--the equivalent of half of the metropolitan area's population--attended educational classes at arts and cultural institutions, a 44 percent increase over 2005.

The critical number, however, is the one that shows the amount of "new money" infused into Colorado's economy: $392 million, says Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.

"What matters to me is how much money comes in from outside--that's primary income," Clark says. "In 2007 that was nearly $400 million. For any business that's big money. Any company with that kind of infusion would be dancing in the streets if they landed it."

It isn't just about selling tickets to "Jersey Boys." As businesses, Colorado's arts, culture and scientific nonprofits employ professionals who include accountants, managers and artists, to name a few. Furthermore, cultural organizations purchase goods and services like any other...