Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research and Policy at Americans for the Arts, visited Buffalo on August 7 to discuss the results of Arts and Economic Prosperity 5. The study measured the impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry by collecting data from 341 communities and regions across the country. The Arts Services Initiative of Western New York joined the study to help produce a customized report for the region encompassing Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties.

While officials had an idea of the importance of nonprofit arts in the region, the numbers turned out to be bigger than anyone expected. Western New York’s arts and culture nonprofits generated $352 million in economic activity and supported more than 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2015.

Cohen hopes that people use the study to advocate for the arts. “When you can show that the arts not only provide community of life benefits, but also are good for the economy, that just makes a really sound and strong argument,” he said.