The Kansas Arts Commission this week released a study showing expenditures by arts and culture organizations, as well as audiences, totaled $153.5 million in 2007.

In addition, the study, by Americans for the Arts, found that arts-related activities generated:

• 4,612 full-time equivalent jobs.
• $95 million in household income.
• $6 million in local government tax revenue.
• $9 million in state government tax revenues.

“The Kansas Economic Impact of the Arts Study documents that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is an economic driver in communities as a growth industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue and is a key element in state tourism,” Anita Wolgast, Kansas Arts Commission chair, said in a news release.

The results will be discussed during a symposium from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Hayden Office Building, 212 SW Eighth Ave. in Topeka. It follows Arts Day at the Capitol, hosted by Kansas Citizens for the Arts, when arts advocates will lobby for their cause. That begins at 9 a.m. at the Statehouse, with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius scheduled to address the group at 11:15 a.m. in the auditorium of the Docking State Office Building.

Click here to download a summary of the full report.