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Economic Development
The Economic Impact of Montana Artists
Table of Contents
Sales Impacts
The total reported sales for 2003 for all respondents were $28,102,987. Of these sales, 77% were to out-of-state buyers, a total of $21,564,754. This represents $21 million new dollars being brought into Montana's economy from artist sales. Assuming that the sample of respondents of the survey represents the population of artists in the state, these sales numbers can be aggregated up to provide an assessment of the likely value of artist sales for the state as a whole. Assuming that the population of artists in the state equals 5,840 (3) and that the sales values reported are representative, the estimated total direct value of sales by Montana artists in 2003 would be $165 million. The estimated direct out-of-state sales would be $126,511,133.
Survey respondents reported materials, marketing and other business expenditures of $13,226,290 in 2003. Of these total expenditures, 26.6% were spent at Montana businesses, slightly over $3 million. Materials expenditures at Montana businesses accounted for $2,856,947 while marketing expenditures accruing to Montana businesses equaled $381,328. Miscellaneous expenditures to Montana businesses totaled $283,827. These represent direct sales for other businesses in Montana.
Fifty percent of all artists surveyed said that art accounted for 100% of their personal income. When queried about the annual income range for themselves and their households, the following information was reported.
Chart 11
Chart 11 shows that the majority of artists for all disciplines have a personal income of less than $30,000 a year. The average per-capita personal income in Montana in 2003 was $25,775. (4) This is comparable to the income of Montana artists. There are more writers and those involved in the performing arts that fall into the $30,000-$50,000 range. Obviously very few artists in any discipline make more than $66,000 a year. The majority of artists who make more than $110,000 a year are writers or visual artists.
(3) U.S. Department of Census
(4) Montana Department of Labor and Industry
