On Jan. 3, the city of Reno released the results of the Arts and Economic Prosperity Study, conducted by Americans for the Arts, a national nonprofit that works to advance the arts and arts education.
Using data from 2022, the study reports that nonprofit arts and culture organizations supported 1,728 jobs (including full-time, part-time and seasonal employees), generated $63.1 million in household income for residents, and contributed $21.6 million in tax revenues to local, state and federal governments—with $3 million directly benefiting the city of Reno.
The 55 arts and culture nonprofits that participated in the study reported direct expenditures of $48,895,286 and generated $1,603,487 in local government revenue.
Crucially, the study looks at the economic impact of arts patrons and what they spend beyond the cost of events admission. It considers expenditures such as restaurant meals, parking, public transport and baby sitters. The study found that attendees spent an average of $38.12 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission.
“We have a great relationship with our neighbors at the Pioneer,” said Reto Gross, a manager at the Wild River Grille. “In fact, we do a lot of different things, not just with the Pioneer, but with a lot of other art foundations in the city of Reno. It definitely generates business. It generates a camaraderie and a community that is something we want to get behind.”
Wild River Grille is located across Virginia Street from the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts and shares a building with the Sierra Arts Foundation. Gross said that both businesses generate revenue for the restaurant.
Gross said that the restaurant is consistently sold out on nights when the Pioneer has events, and that patrons—especially out-of-town visitors—will often return on occasions unrelated to the arts.