New BEA Data Shows Economic Impact of Delaware's Arts & Cultural Sector

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in conjunction with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), has released its annual update on the national and state-level contributions of the arts and cultural sector to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). The new data looks at the contributions of the arts and cultural industries in 2021, after the first year of COVID-19.

The data demonstrates the significant contribution of the arts and cultural industries to the national economy in 2021 while also underscoring the continued impact of the pandemic on the sector. The Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) tracks the annual economic value of arts and cultural production from 35 industries—including both commercial and nonprofit entities.

bar graph showing real value added for arts and cultural production satellite account (ACPSA) compared with US GDP - percent change over year - 2018 4% ACPSA increase vs 3% GPD increase, 2019 2% ACPSA increase vs 2.2% GDP increase, 2020 5% ACPSA decrease vs 3% GDP decrease, 2021 nearly 14% ACPSA increase vs 6% GDP increase — Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Analysis shows that several core arts industries did not return to pre-pandemic production levels in 2021. This group includes:

Independent artists (as an industry)
Performing arts organizations (e.g., theater, dance, and opera companies, music groups; and circuses)
Arts-related construction
And many others

Despite setbacks for those industries, the overall national arts economy in 2021 represented 4.4 percent of GDP, or just over $1.0 trillion—a new high-water mark.

Economic Impact at the State Level

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that in 2021 arts and cultural production in Delaware accounted for:

$1 billion economic impact
7,746 jobs
1.4% of the state’s economy

Trends in arts and cultural production: 2020—2021

In 2021, Delaware ranked 50th among all states in ACPSA value added and 34th among all states in ACPSA value added growth. Since 2020, ACPSA value added has grown 9.55 percent in Delaware, compared with an increase of 14.43 percent for the nation.
In 2021, Delaware ranked 50th among all states in ACPSA employment and 34th among all states in ACPSA employment growth. Since 2020, ACPSA employment has grown 3.97 percent in Delaware, compared with an increase of 4.96 percent for the nation.
In 2021, Delaware ranked 50th among all states in ACPSA compensation and 43rd among all states in ACPSA compensation growth. Since 2020, ACPSA compensation has grown 5.71 percent in Delaware, compared with an increase of 11.27 percent for the nation. Average compensation per wage-and-salary job in Delaware’s ACPSA industries was $69,240 in 2021, compared with $79,924 for all salaried jobs in the state.

Comparing Arts and Culture to Other Sectors of the Delaware Economy

Arts and cultural Value Added in Delaware ranked 5th among the comparison sectors. Comparison industries are selected industry categories using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) drawn from BEA’s 2021 state level data for employment (full-time and part-time workers), compensation and value added by industry. The comparisons are not mutually exclusive—arts and culture includes, for example, portions of other sectors such as construction and retail trade.