Taliesin West
Arts and culture shape how people experience a community, but their impact can also be measured in jobs, wages and economic activity. The Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account uses federal data from 35 commercial and nonprofit industries to measure that impact. The latest account, released in April 2025, covers 2023, reflecting the time required to compile the underlying national and state economic data.
Arizona’s arts and cultural economy outpaced every other state over the five years ending in 2023, growing 51.4% and reaching $15.8 billion in annual value added. That total represented 3% of the state’s economic output.
Arizona ranked 17th among the states in total arts and cultural value added and 10th in year-over-year growth. Its value added increased 10.9% from 2022 to 2023, exceeding the national increase of 7.6% in current dollars. The 10.9% annual increase and the state’s nation-leading 51.4% five-year increase are not adjusted for inflation.
Arizona’s arts and cultural industries supported 95,294 jobs in 2023, ranking the state 18th nationally. Employment grew 5.1% from the previous year, tying Arizona for eighth among the states in employment growth. The sector generated $7.33 billion in worker compensation.
Arts and Cultural Industries as an Overall Sector
Across the country, arts and cultural industries contributed $1.17 trillion to the economy in 2023, equal to 4.2% of U.S. gross domestic product. Their economic value increased 6.6% in inflation-adjusted dollars from 2022, more than twice the 2.9% growth of the overall U.S. economy.
The sector employed nearly 5.4 million wage-and-salary workers nationwide and generated $553.9 billion in compensation. By 2023, 27 of the 35 industries measured by the account had surpassed their inflation-adjusted 2019 value-added levels.
Top Arts and Cultural Industries
The five largest arts and cultural industries by value added were web publishing and streaming, broadcasting, government services, traditional and software publishing, and motion picture and video. Together, they accounted for 58.3% of the national arts and cultural economy.
Web publishing and streaming remained the country’s largest arts industry and grew 59.2% in inflation-adjusted value from 2019 through 2023. Creative computer systems design grew 76.7%, while sound recording increased 62.9%.
Recovery remained uneven among organizations that depend heavily on audiences. Performing arts organizations grew 31.6% from 2022 to 2023, but their inflation-adjusted economic value remained 12.3% below its 2019 level. Performing arts presenters fared better, exceeding their 2019 economic value by 36.7%.
In Business Magazine invited several of the Valley’s arts and cultural organizations to participate in this guide to performing arts groups, museums, venues and attractions. These organizations contribute to the region’s economy and quality of life while relying on attendance, donations, partnerships and corporate support. We encourage our readers to explore their offerings and consider ways to attend, donate and engage with the arts throughout Greater Phoenix.
