Dallas, TX (April 13, 2023) – The Dallas Symphony Association releases the findings of a 2022 Economic Impact Study that estimates that the orchestra generates $107 million annually for the regional economy. Working with the Inspire team, comprised of consultants from Bain & Company, the Dallas Symphony sought data on its economic, educational and cultural impact throughout the Dallas Metropolitan region in 2022 as part of its strategic work in the Dallas community and future organizational planning. With the largest budget of local arts organizations, the Dallas Symphony produces over 200 events each year, serves approximately 240,000 patrons, employs over 224 workers and currently runs more than 20 educational and engagement programs on a yearly basis.
“The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is more than a cultural organization. It is an economic engine that generates significant economic impact each year,” said Cece Smith, Chair of the Dallas Symphony Association Board of Governors. “This impact not only benefits our organization but also supports the livelihoods of countless individuals and businesses throughout the region. We are proud to play a role in the growth and prosperity of North Texas.”
This financial impact extends beyond our concert hall to support restaurants, hotels and other businesses in the community,” said Ross Perot President & CEO Kim Noltemy. “This study underscores the important role that cultural institutions play in promoting economic development, cultural vibrancy and community engagement.”
This study provided results in three defining areas for the Dallas Symphony: Economic, Educational and Cultural Impacts.
Economic Impact
Throughout the year, the Dallas Symphony generated over $107M for the local economy. The Dallas Symphony’s economic influence has been calculated through Direct, Indirect and Induced spend models.
For 2022, the Dallas Symphony and audience spend generated ~$107M in economic impact:
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- $36M Direct
- $14M Indirect
- $57M Induced
- ~3,000 Full Time Equivalents (measurement equivalent to an individual worker). DSO spend generates 10 times the FTEs outside of the organization as it does inside.
- ~$5M in state and local tax revenue
Education
- DSO afterschool programs operate in diverse areas (primarily Southern Dallas), serving 95% students of color
- 100% of all Young Strings students graduated high school and were accepted to college; this is compared to the national average: 86% of high school students graduate high school; 62% of high school students enroll in a college of their choosing.
Cultural Importance
As a leading cultural institution in its region, the Dallas Symphony is shown to have a strong cultural impact. This impact helps to add to the city’s attractiveness for corporate entities. Orchestras in general, like the Dallas Symphony, are an important part of the cultural landscape of their metropolitan areas and beyond. For example, the DSO has partnered with Bloomberg and Bloomberg Media for an annual Christmas broadcast along with two additional programs for their global channels and kiosks.
As part of this study, Inspire highlights comments from notable members of the community to gather the Symphony’s direct impact on the Dallas Cultural scene and the importance of supporting arts institutions as a part of this specific ecosystem. A few selections from the study are below:
“It’s not just about doing business. Those who relocate to Dallas find life here is pretty spectacular – world-class arts and culture, pro sports, year-round outdoor culture. Dallas has something for everyone.” Dallas Regional Chamber
“Arts & culture represent the soul of a city, and as members of the city of Dallas, we have the obligation to nurture the arts and responsibility to fuel that culture. Supporting the Dallas Symphony is definitely a part of that.” Anne Chow, CEO AT&T Business (Retired)
About the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi, presents more than 150 orchestra concerts at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s top-rated concert halls. As the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO is committed to inspiring the broadest possible audience with distinctive classical programs, inventive pops concerts and innovative multi-media presentations. As part of its commitment to the community, the orchestra reaches more than 243,000 adults and children annually through performances, educational programs and community outreach initiatives. The orchestra offers more than 200 outdoor chamber concerts in neighborhoods throughout Dallas each year, as well as continuing online music lessons to more than 700 students as part of its Young Strings and Young Musicians programs.
The Dallas Symphony has used digital and broadcast media to share music beyond its geographic boundaries and has become a leader among American orchestras in digital distribution. The DSO captures and streams concert performances for distribution online through its Next Stage Digital Concert Series, Presented by PNC Bank. Programs are available on the DSO’s website at watch.dallassymphony.org.
The DSO has a tradition dating back to 1900 and is a cornerstone of the unique, 118-acre Arts District in Downtown Dallas that is home to multiple performing arts venues, museums and parks – the largest district of its kind in the nation. The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Arts & Culture, City of Dallas.
