The Orange County Register's Tim Mangan has written a story about the economic impact of the nonprofit arts community:

"Call it a trend. Nonprofit arts organizations are increasingly taking a look at themselves in economic, rather than artistic, terms. They are making a case for the arts from an accountant's point of view, ordering studies that assign real cash value to creative activities, establish their relationship to local economies and show how they drive economic activity in their area.

"The nonprofit arts, supporters contend, are good for business. 

"'We know that the 'art for arts' sake' argument - that the arts are good for quality of life and for civilized society to embrace - those arguments do not necessarily resonate with certain key decision makers,'" says Rick Stein, executive director of Arts Orange County, an advocacy group. Economic-impact studies help him when he speaks to government officials, local businessmen and philanthropists who don't necessarily understand or value the arts."  Read more here.