2024 Economic Impact Surveys

At ECRAC, our mission is to support the arts and bring the life enhancing values they afford to all Region 7E residents. Through funding from the Minnesota legislature, we provide grants every year directly to artists and arts organizations.

To continue this work, we partner with advocacy groups to ensure that legislators and elected officials are committed to arts funding. It is important to have accurate, quantitative data demonstrating how the arts contribute to a healthier economy!

Together with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and Americans for the Arts, ECRAC is gathering data on the economic impact of our sector. We are asking for arts and culture organizations in the community to help us collect surveys that will inform a 2025 report.

What questions does the survey ask?

The survey is anonymous, and asks participants about their spending associated with attending your event.

How can you get involved?

If you are hosting or presenting an arts event for community members this fall, you can participate in the study in a couple of ways:

1. Simply give MRAC permission come to your event! We will pay for our own admission fee and conduct the survey directly with your attendees.

2. Help to promote the survey by making announcements during the show!

3. Provide staff or volunteers to help us collect surveys during the event.

How does your participation help?

The 2019 survey results showed that the total annual impact from the arts in the East Central region was $2,184,645! That shows that investing in the arts is a huge boost to the local economy.

You can see the survey results for East Central MN here: 

Are you curious about the impact on the whole state of Minnesota? You can view those details here.

Ready to get involved or learn more?

To volunteer your event for participation in the survey, email Mary Minnick-Daniels at director@ecrac.org.