A STRONG BUSINESS SECTOR INCLUDES THE CREATIVE SECTOR

* 9,369 arts-related businesses provide 42,273 jobs in the state of Arizona

* Tucson's major arts organizations spent over $39.5 million and generated $5.8 million in tax revenues in FY 99-2000

* Nonprofit Maricopa County arts organizations and their audiences had a total economic impact of nearly $344 million in FY 2000.

CULTURAL TOURISM BRINGS SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TO ARIZONA

* The Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival attracts 7,500 fans from across the U.S. and abroad annually.

* The Celebration of Basketweaving saw approximately $125,000 in revenue toward Native American artists through the sale of their artwork to tourists.

* Non-local attendees to arts events spend nearly 3x as much as locals--$40 on average above the cost of admission.

THE ARTS PREPARE THE THINKERS OF TOMORROW

* Hispanic students participating in Tucson's Opening Minds Through the Arts narrow the achievement gap.

* Arizona Commission on the Arts-sponsored activities and programs reach nearly 2 million students.

* Students who are highly involved in arts instruction:

• Earn better grades
• Perform better on standardized tests
• Perform more community service
• Watch fewer hours of television
• Report less boredom in school
• And are less likely to drop out of school.