In Wednesday’s (7/3) World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), Michael O’Connor reports, “The Omaha Symphony produces more than music by Mozart, Fleetwood Mac and Gershwin. The symphony generated an estimated $45 million economic impact in Douglas County over the past five years, according to a new report by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln economist. … James Johnson, symphony president and CEO, said the symphony contracted for the study to document the role it plays in the local economy. ‘We know we (make) a great contribution to the cultural life of the community,’ he said. ‘But we want to be able to show our supporters what a difference we make to the economic life of Omaha and the region.’ The study was conducted by economist Eric Thompson, director of the UNL Bureau of Business Research, and Shannon McClure, a graduate research assistant. … Karla Ewert, spokeswoman for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, said … ‘A strong arts community makes us a much more attractive place to do business and live.’… The symphony season that just ended was not included in Thompson’s recent study, but it was strong, Johnson said. Paid attendance was 54,023, up 12 percent from the season before. Gross ticket revenue surpassed $1.6 million, up 6 percent.”
Posted July 8, 2013
