NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — New data relating to the state’s economy in 2023 has just been released, showing that North Dakota’s arts and cultural sector has contributed nearly $1.8 billion to the state’s economy. The data, which came from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), shows that arts and culture represents about 2.32% of the state’s total GDP, and has supported 14,852 jobs. It also provided nearly $903 million in compensation.

The figures, released as part of the 2023 Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), show North Dakota’s GDP growth was at 3% while the state’s Arts and Culture Value Added increased by over 10% from 2022 to 2023. The sector also ranked 7th among North Dakota’s top value-added industries, surpassing education services and coming in just behind utilities. This upward move puts arts and culture at the top of the list with industries like mining and agriculture.

Compared to the rest of the U.S., North Dakota ranked 48th in ACPSA compensation. However, the state was 27th in compensation growth, adding nearly 1,900 new jobs in arts and culture in 2023. Compensation grew 4% in North Dakota since 2022, compared to 3.6% for the U.S. as a whole.

On a national scale, arts and cultural industries contributed $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023, accounting for 4.2% of GDP. The sector grew at more than twice the rate of the total economy, with the U.S. maintaining a trade surplus of nearly $37 billion in arts-related exports.

“These new numbers reinforce what we’ve long known: arts and culture are vital to North Dakota’s economy,” said Jessica Christy, Executive Director of North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA), in a press release. “Not only do the arts enhance the quality of life for North Dakotans, but they also create jobs, generate revenue, and contribute to the economic well-being of communities across our state.”

The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study, conducted in 2022, shows how the state’s nonprofit arts sector helps foster social and educational benefits. Some notable statistics are that attendees spend $32.50 per person per event, beyond the cost of admission, and 90.9% of arts and culture attendees agree that the activity or venue they went to “is inspiring a sense of pride in this neighborhood or community.”

To see a one-page summary, download North Dakota’s Creative Economy State Profile. To take a look at the full findings of the BEA report, read the national NEA press release.