Harrisburg – Newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) show significant contributions by the creative sector to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022. Up 6.8 percent from 2021, Pennsylvania's creative sector added more than $30.1 billion to the Commonwealth's economy, employing more than 175,000 FTE positions and providing $15 billion in compensation. BEA data rank Pennsylvania seventh in the nation for creative sector employment and eighth for creative sector GDP.
"The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) supports and invests in creative industries," said Susan S. Cohen, Chair of the PCA. "The BEA numbers highlight Pennsylvania's creative sector contributions to the Commonwealth's economic growth and development, which in turn, enhance the vitality and life of a community, its investors, residents and visitors."
The BEA's Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) tracks the annual economic value of arts and cultural production from 35 industries, including both commercial and nonprofit entities. Nationwide, in 2022, arts and cultural industries contributed $1.1 trillion (or 4.3 percent) to U.S. GDP, and nearly 5.2 million jobs. A fact sheet for Pennsylvania is available on the BEA website. Through the BEA's partnership with the NEA and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, an interactive dashboard by state is available here.
"The PCA supports jobs, builds communities, inspires lifelong learning, and sparks innovation through its portfolio of funding opportunities," said Karl Blischke, Executive Director of the PCA. "BEA data illustrate the value of this work writ large, which is evident through the PCA's investments in arts and cultural production, creative placemaking, accessibility, capacity building, arts in education, and the growth and sustainability of creative small businesses and creative entrepreneurs."
Annually, the PCA provides hundreds of grants to organizations and innovators throughout the Commonwealth's broad creative sector, including: support for business operations, like the Pittsburgh Glass Center; funding for signature events that help stimulate local economies, like Musikfest in Bethlehem; the PCA invests in arts-based community and economic development projects, like the Butler Cultural District; and the PCA helps talented members of the creative small business community, like Philadelphia-based Modest Traditions, to establish and grow businesses critical to thriving Main Streets across Pennsylvania.
To learn more about the power of Pennsylvania's creative economy, visit the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts online. See how the PCA helps build businesses through investments in creative entrepreneurs and small businesses, and listen to stories from creative sector innovators and contributors.
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