Creative Economy in Chicago and COVID-19 Impact
updated as of February 2021
The Creative Economy is Big Business in Chicago
$3.2 Billion
total Industry spending by Chicago nonprofit arts and culture organizations and audiences each year.1
$2.3 Billion
economic impact of spending by Chicago nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and audiences per year.1
85,248
(full time) supported by Chicago arts and culture nonprofits.1
$336 Million
revenue generated to local and state government by Chicago arts and culture nonprofit each year.1
COVID-19 is Devastating Chicago’s Creative Economy
$4.7 billion in cumulative losses for Chicago’s creative industries through July 2020 (est.).2
66% of unemployed artists that self reported are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) versus 52% of white artists.5
86,825 workers in Chicago’s creative industry made unemployed by COVID-19 through July 2020 (est.).2
20% more revenue loss among smaller BIPOC arts and culture organizations compared to their predominantly white counterparts.3
$437,230 average financial loss per Chicago arts and cultural organization , far higher than the national average loss of $30,000 per arts and culture non-profit.3
Chicago #2 among peer regions in terms of annual percentage decrease in creative occupations since the onset of COVID-19.6
337% annual increase
in unemployment insurance (UI) claims in arts, entertainment, sports, and media occupations in the Chicago area since December 2019. This is far higher than the annual increase in UI claims across all industries and occupations in the Chicago area (292%).4
8.5% Decrease
in shares of giving for arts and culture in 2020, the largest such decline in the last decade. 2020 saw record levels of giving; however, in areas like education, human services, and the environment (Giving USA)
40% decrease in arts, entertainment, and recreation employees in the Chicago area since December last year – a larger percentage change than accommodation, food service, education, construction, health care, and retail.7
51% annual decrease in in theater employees in Chicago area, revealing that performing artists are most adversely affected by the pandemic.7
The Creative Sector Makes Communities Stronger
90% of Americans believe that arts and cultural facilities are important for their community’s quality of life.9
72% of Americans believe the arts unify our communities, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity.9
$50.56 is the amount each Chicago nonprofit arts and cultural event attendee spends beyond the ticket cost on meals, retail, parking, lodging, local transportation, childcare, and souvenirs. These dollars provide vital income to local merchants, energize the downtown, and pay salaries and wages in non-arts sectors. This is almost $2 billion in ancillary spending in Chicago directly because of cultural events.1
Creative Workers Stand Ready to Aid Recovery
76% of artists have used their art to raise moral and create community cohesion during the pandemic.10
83% of creative workers are ready to put their creative practice to use as part of national recovery.10
89% of Illinois arts nonprofits have been delivering artistic content to raise community spirits during social distancing/quarantine.7