OECD Culture and Local Development.pdf - PACA

2. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT BASED ON ATTRACTING VISITORS AND TOURISTS
producing traditional or contemporary objects with a cultural connotation, and
equipping it with an interpretation centre demonstrating the method and the product,
where visitors can become familiar with this heritage.
This symbiosis between the firm and the interpretive centre is also intended to
highlight the environmental and heritage qualities of the building or the site concerned.
With the globalisation of references and techniques, regional or local architecture is
no longer synonymous with “outdated”, and indeed older buildings can be restored
and maintained as a way out of preserving popular heritage. In 2002, the Federation
of Economuseums had more than 200 institutional members in Canada and around
50 in Europe. Employment in these institutions was significant, amounting to more
than 1000, recognising however that no distinction is made here between the productive
function performed by these people in the business itself and their work as interpretive
or sales personnel in the museum, which is an extension of the business. From this
viewpoint, the contribution of culture is different but at least as important as in other
fields, for it relies directly on the sustainability of existing enterprises.
The performing arts
Live performances are often cited to show the importance of the economic spinoffs
that culture provides for the local economy, no doubt because winning grants is
a key element. These activities often lose money because of quasi-structural factors,
and mounting them requires the support of public subsidies and private philanthropy.
Two arguments are generally employed to this end: the expected benefits of
democratising cultural practices, and the job creation potential for the local territory.
Empirical evidence however does not provide automatic corroboration of these
claims, and we shall select from among the various forms of performing arts that of
the theatre (both because of its importance, and because more data are available on
it). While theatres can make contributions, it seems that these are confined for the
most part to metropolitan areas where they can generate and sustain jobs over one
or several seasons.
- Every two years, a report is published evaluating the impact of Broadway theatre
activity on the city of New York. The data include the amounts spent on mounting
and running productions and on theatre maintenance, and spending in the city
by Broadway patrons 51 .
From June 2002 through June 2003, Broadway as an industry contributed $4.3
billion to the economy of New York City. This amount comprised $2.60 billion in
impact from ancillary spending by Broadway-bound visitors to the city; $1.66 billion
in impact from expenditures on producing and running shows; and $42 million in impact
from capital investment in the theatres. Moreover, Broadway supported 36,000 fulltime
equivalent jobs during this period.
72 CULTURE AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT - ISBN 92-64-00990-6 - © OECD 2005