WACO, Texas — Several local nonprofits feature music, art and culture events year round in Waco including the Waco Symphony Association.
“Everyone missed live performances so much during the pandemic. It’s a great unifier for our community to have an uplifting music,” Executive Director Carolyn Bess said.
When you buy a ticket, food or a new outfit for these events all that money adds up.
“For every dollar our city puts into arts and culture, they get $4 back in local tax revenue. If I was investing in something I gave a 400% return on the investment, I would consider that a good investment,” Creative Waco CEO Fiona Bond said.
A recent Arts and Economic Prosperity study shows the Waco nonprofit and arts and cultural sector generates around $74.1 million per year.
“For most people they’re struggling to pre-pandemic levels. Here we had new organizations formed during the pandemic,” Bond said.
Creative Waco helped collect information from 40 nonprofits and over 1,200 community surveys through June 2022 to May 2023 for this study.
Bonds said they’ve seen major improvement since the last time they did the study back in 2015.
“Across the nation the average is a 9% decreased. However, in Waco during that same period of time we’ve experienced an increase of 16%,” Bond said.
She said the reports show Waco is a destination with a thriving economy. This makes the city attractive for businesses and special events.
For the full study click here.
