The Economic Importance of Santa Fe's Arts & Cultural Industries

In 2002, Santa Fe’s arts & cultural industries (A&CI) and cultural tourism generated over $1 billion in receipts, employed 12,567 workers (17.5% of total employment in Santa Fe county), and paid $231.5 million in wages and salaries. Just over one-half of employment and wages are generated by industries that are either directly engaged in the creation, presentation or preservation of art and/or cultural activities, or indirectly engaged with cultural content but not themselves “source activities”. The balance is generated by the tourism industry to the extent that tourism is associated with an interest in Santa Fe’s art, cultural and historical attractions.