South Carolina among fastest-growing states for arts

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South Carolina is among the fastest growing states for arts and culture based on how much those sectors contribute to the economy, a recent report found.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Office of Research and Analysis for the National Endowment for the Arts named South Carolina among the fastest growing states for arts and culture based on economic impact of arts and culture to gross domestic product, according to a news release from the NEA.

The latest data (from 2016) showing the economic impact of arts and culture to the national GDP places South Carolina at No. 8 in the U.S., the release said.

The analysis of a three-year period (2014-16) showed the average economic growth rate of arts and culture nationwide was 5.9%, while South Carolina had a rate of 7.5%.

The top arts and culture industries contributing to South Carolina’s gross state product in 2016 were:

• Broadcast: radio, television and cable (excluding sports)
• Publishing: newspapers, books, art prints and arts-related software

Performing arts companies also were among the higher-ranking industries in the state, contributing more than $114 million to S.C.’s gross state product.

Arts and culture contributed more than $804.2 billion nationwide, or about 4.3% of the U.S. GDP, according to the report.