Study says symphony has major economic impact

An independent report reveals that Glacier Symphony and Chorale provides more than $1.27 million dollars per year and 51 jobs to local economy.

Funded by Northwestern Energy, the study was conducted by Rob Gilmore, of Solution Mountain, a business-consulting firm located in Bozeman. The study looks at both direct and indirect economic impacts of the 31-year-old music organization.

According to GSC executive director Alan Satterlee, what makes the economic impact of arts and culture organizations unique is that, unlike most other industries, they induce large amounts of related spending by their audiences, stimulating other businesses in the local economy.

“When patrons attend a performing arts event, they may purchase dinner at a restaurant, eat dessert after the show and return home and pay the baby-sitter,” Satterlee said. “All of these expenditures have a positive and measurable impact on the economy.”

Festival Amadeus, GSC’s annual weeklong summer concert series in Whitefish, generates $250,000 of economic impact.

GSC’s current budget is in the range of $650,000, of which about $315,000 or 57 percent is budgeted for salaries and benefits. Much of tht is spent locally and has a multiplication effect in the economy. Gilmore said the multiplier for performing arts organizations is much higher than for many other industries.

“Equally important is that GSC collects nearly $160,000 annually in ticket revenue serving 9,745 patrons each year,” Satterlee said. “Studies show that those attending concerts tend to spend money before and after concerts at an average of $40 per person.”

GSC also delivers a tremendous service at a low cost to the community, producing twice as many concerts each season as orchestras in their same budget range.

“According to the League of American Orchestras, most organizations in the $650,000 budget range only produce 10-12 concerts per year,” Satterlee said. “We produce 19-21 symphony concerts annually, nearly twice as many as the nationwide average.

GSC is also one of the few orchestras in the U.S. that provides free tickets to all students through high school for their flagship Masterworks Series. The free ticket program, along with other tickets available at a very reasonable price, make live symphonic music performances highly accessible to students and families.

For more information, visit online at www.gscmusic.org or call 406-407-7000.