Arts & The Economy = $14 Billion in SC!


The Economic Impact of South Carolina’s Arts-Related Economic Cluster report prepared by Joseph C. Von Nessen, Ph.D., and Research Economist was released in February 2023.

The Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina provides research to analyze 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, regarding the South Carolina economy associated with the arts and design, crafts, and related activities.

According to the study’s  overview, “The creative cluster can be formally defined as a group of industries that broadly encompass science and technology, arts, culture, media and entertainment, business, management, and the professions.”

Current Annual Economic Impact of the South Carolina Arts-Related Cluster:

Total Employment – 123,550

Total Labor Income – $5,654,720,802

Total Economic Impact – $14,062,526,348 (!!)

See the full report on SouthCarolinaArts.com. Love data? See more.  Please thank your legislators and local officials for supporting the arts!