October 2025
Increasing Value of the Arts
Dear Friends of Flipping The Script Productions,
This month, I’d like to draw your attention to some remarkable numbers recently reported by the Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account, as covered by BroadwayWorld’s Stephi Wild.
According to the report, arts and culture activity contributed to a record breaking $1.17 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023 and employed 5.4 million people nationwide. These numbers remind us of something we already know: the value of art and performance cannot be underestimated. Far beyond the cultural value of the arts, these statistics prove that the arts are not a financial drain, but a thriving economic engine.
Recently, the growing sentiment that the arts are an economic sinkhole has become more and more troubling to me. The arts and humanities are so often the first to face budget cuts amid growing economic and political challenges. As I see it, the arts are not a luxury industry - they are employers, taxpayers, vendors, and community sponsors. In cities and small towns across all 50 states, the arts draw tourism and provide work for millions of Americans.
The arts also show an amazing amount of resilience, perhaps more than any other comparable industry. After years of uncertainty and upheaval, growth at this scale shows that people are returning to the spaces where stories are told, music is played, and creativity is shared.
In moments of stress, people instinctively turn to art in all forms, and our industry needs the tools to appease growing demand. With a lack of funding, theatres are forced to pass the cost to consumers, as we discussed in our Newsletter this past May. This cycle reduces profitability, audience engagement, and employment opportunities. In short, reducing support for the arts is fiscally irresponsible, short-sighted, and will certainly have devastating impacts on our GDP.
The arts are not simply entertainment to fill our leisure time - they are a living, breathing embodiment of culture. They are an essential economic force, employing millions and sustaining the businesses, vendors, and communities that depend on cultural life. Behind every figure in this report are countless artists and even more audience members whose lives are enriched by this work.
Whether in a crowded theater, a museum gallery, or even through a screen in our living rooms, the arts keep people inspired and connected to each other. This source of solidarity is essential in today’s political and economic climate. A trillion-dollar contribution to the economy is powerful proof, but the true value is beyond numbers. Art cultivates empathy, imagination, and resilience - all qualities we urgently need in today’s world.
At Flipping the Script, we believe our mission of storytelling is as important as ever. Stories not only reflect the world we live in, they help shape the one we want to build together. Thank you for following along.
Warm regards,
Stephen Rourke
Founder, Flipping The Script Productions
Share our Mission
Our goal is to expand our reach as much as possible. If you know someone who would be interested in joining our dialogue regarding theatre, Broadway, and diverse voices, send them this email!
Someone Close to You
We are still working to mobilize Someone Close to You by Melissa Borgerding.
Scenes are available on YouTube: https://www.flippingthescriptshows.com/scty-video
Connect with Us
Follow us for updates and behind-the-scenes content
Flipping The Script Productions
6719 Old Pimlico Road, Baltimore, Maryland, 21209
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.flippingthescriptshows.com
CONTACT MR. ROURKE’S PRESS REPRESENTATIVE
Jay Michaels Global Communications, LLC
jay.michaels.theatricals@gmail.com
jaymichaelsarts.com
