Every year in Durango, we come together to celebrate the arts – whether it's watching our children shine in a recital, catching a concert with friends or supporting a local production that makes us laugh, cry and think. These events often take place in spaces that have become community landmarks – like the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, where I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the incredible ways arts and culture shape our lives.
Beyond entertainment, these performances and the organizations that produce them – whether nonprofit or for-profit – are small businesses that drive our local economy. They employ artists, technicians, administrators and event staff, while also supporting local vendors, restaurants, hotels and shops.
A national study released in 2023 by Americans for the Arts, Arts and Economic Prosperity VI – AEP6 – underscores this point. Using 2022 data from 373 regions across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, the study found that nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity and $29.1 billion in tax revenue. Of that, audiences contributed $78.4 billion in additional spending – on meals, drinks, parking, child care and more – just by attending events.
Here in Durango, we see this impact firsthand. At the Community Concert Hall, we frequently hear from local business owners who feel the ripple effect of a sold-out show. Patrons dine downtown, book overnight stays and make a night of it – making arts events a vital part of our town’s economic ecosystem.
But the value of the arts isn’t just financial. According to the AEP6 study, 86% of Americans believe arts and culture are essential to their community’s quality of life, and 89% agree that arts venues are a source of neighborhood pride. That rings especially true in Durango, where community and creativity go hand in hand.
When the lights go up at the Concert Hall and a performance begins, it’s not just a show – it’s a celebration of who we are as a community. It’s a reminder of what we can create together and why supporting the arts means supporting each other.
To learn more about upcoming Community Concert Hall events, visit durangoconcerts.com. And stay tuned for our next column, where we’ll look more closely at the economic impact of arts and culture in Colorado and right here in La Plata County.
Charles Leslie is director of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
