Arts and Crafts Center Industry Overview

Communities across the country have shown increasing awareness of the contribution of arts and cultural amenities to overall quality of life. Many communities have seen growing efforts to bring arts and cultural programming to residents through economic and community development. Particularly, the arts and crafts center model has grown over time. The Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (VTCECE) explored the current and changing conditions of this industry sector, particularly in light of the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. VTCECE analyzed arts center visitor demographics, accommodations, courses, instructors, tuition, scholarships, revenue streams, expenses, operations, staffing, opportunities, and challenges.