Boston tied for third place with San Diego, ranking behind San Francisco and Austin out of 49 metro areas with populations over one million in this one-time calculation.
According to the New England Council’s 2004 report, “Creative Cluster” industries in New England account for 2.3% of all employment, or 157,000 jobs, of which 82,000 are in Massachusetts, where they represent 2.6% of all jobs.
According to a Boston Foundation report, the Boston region was second only to New York in per capita contributions to the arts among 10 comparable metro areas. However, cuts in public sector funding and a slowing of private contributions during the recession has forced program reductions.
The number of nonprofit arts organizations in the region grew by 73% over the 1990s, faster than any region of comparable size, with the fastest growth among smaller organizations.
In 2004, total attendance was down from 2002 levels at a number of major cultural venues, including the Museum of fine Arts and the Boston Ballet. Attendance at First Night peaked in 2000 at more than 2.5 million but declined to 1 million in 2004. However, Boston’s sports fans brought millions into the city to celebrate the historic Red Sox and New England Patriots wins in 2004.
Greater Boston was the destination of 16 million domestic and international visitors in 2003, up 5% from 2002, with 60% coming to the area for pleasure. Visitors spent $7.5 billion, a major boost to the regional economy. However, statewide, cultural tourism has remained static for the past five years.
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