Page 8 - MidJersey Business - November/December 2014

{ MIDjerseychamber.org }

President’s

Message

COLORING BY NUMBERS

id you know that arts and culture as an industry generates approximately

$135.2 billion of economic activity annually and employs more than
4 million individuals? According to Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, a study

conducted by Americans for the Arts, 32 percent of individuals who attend
an art or cultural event live outside the county in which the event takes

place, and their event-related spending is more than twice that of their
Dlocal counterparts (nonlocal: $39.96 vs. local: $17.42).

The arts industry not only has a direct impact from the people it employs and direct
business it conducts, but has a vast efect that helps many other sectors such as hotels,

restaurants, travel/transportation, retail, and the list goes on. Central New Jersey,
our mid-Jersey region especially, boasts townships that

are dedicated to growing and promoting their arts and
cultural events.
The arts industry has a
Our capital city of Trenton is no exception. With the amount of his-
a vast effect that helps
tory and culture it has to ofer, there should be no doubt of its vibrant

many sectors such as
arts community. Just one example of this is Art All Night, an annual

hotels, restaurants, travel,
fundraiser held in the Roebling Wire Works Factory building that at-
tracted more than 1,000 artists and 30,000 attendees in 2013.
transportation, and retail.
On Nov. 13, our Chamber put the arts in the spotlight once again by
hosting a cocktail reception at the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion. The cocktail reception

featured not only artwork, but also historical exhibits and live entertainment with part of the pro-
ceeds from the event directly beneitting Ellarslie.

We will continue to support the arts and culture community in and around not only Trenton, but
our entire mid-Jersey region.

Robert D. Prunetti
President + CEO
Robert@MIDJerseyChamber.org

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