by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
According to a recent study by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the local economic impact of the arts community exceeds $70.4 million.
“Anybody that says we have a bad art market here is doing Jacksonville a disservice,” said Steve Williams, co-owner of Pedestrian Gallery in Springfield, which generates sales in excess of $1 million annually. “We buy and hire locally whenever we can. Now, we’re reinvesting in the community by opening the gallery. I feel like it all goes back to the community.”
Twenty-six cultural groups participated in the study, including a cross-section of small and large, nonprofit and for-profit groups. Arts organizations directly supported 355 full-time and 388 part-time jobs in Jacksonville. In fact, half of the expenses of the 26 groups surveyed went to personnel costs.
“Vibrant arts agencies rely on every person imaginable for their success,” said Robert White, executive director of the Cultural Council. “They need artists of every kind, administrators, educators, ushers, marketing experts, communications and personnel people. All together we see an industry that reflects the professional makeup of our city.”
For most of the 150 members of the Jacksonville Coalition of the Visual Arts, their work is sold locally. According to JCVA president Bharati Chaudhuri, many within the organization make their living by teaching art in Jacksonville, both emerging and established artists.
“Most of our artists are local,” said Vandroff Gallery manager Thelma Nied. “I would say most of the money from sales stay in Jacksonville. We only take a 20 percent commission and the profits go back into our cultural arts departments for the gallery and to book festivals.”
Roving theater troupes also contribute to the local economy.
Jacksonville Stage Company performs at various venues such as churches, and operates on a $90,000 budget. Executive Director Bob Pritchard estimates 30 percent of that amount is recycled through the community.
“Primarily we use local actors and equipment,” said Pritchard. “We order all our supplies locally. All profits go back to other programs. We have no paid employees so all the money goes back to other organizations in the community.”
Theatre Jacksonville, generates $200,000 yearly in ticket sales and subscriptions and from services such as rentals and tuition fees from drama classes.
“Our revenue goes for programming and operating costs,” said Sarah Boone, executive director. “We’re not part of any national organization so there is no parent organization and all of those dollars stay in the community. We serve Northeast Florida, mostly Duval County. The people that see the shows are from here; the people that are in the shows are from here; the children at our acting camps are from here.”
At the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, revenue comes from contributions, income from endowments, memberships and admissions.
“It all goes to our operations,” said Lisa Steffen, director of finance. “And we operate out of just one location. Part of our mission is to partner with all segments of the community to make the museum the center of education and arts. We do a lot of community outreach.”
“We may be a nonprofit but we run the museum as a business,” said Maarten van de Guchte, director of the Cummer. “Our operating budget this fiscal year is $3.1 million. Roughly one-third of that comes from interest on our general endowment. The principal remains intact. The other 70 percent, we find ourselves.”
One nonprofit group that has no earned revenue is the Beaches Fine Arts Series. In its 30th season, the group continues to offer free concerts through patron contributions, grants and fundraisers.
“Our economic contribution is large because of the size of our audience and the people we bring into the area,” said Kathryn Wallis, executive director. “We present world class concerts and we have a full house every time. What we provide is a gift to the community.”