March 15, 2012
(From the latest Mississippi Arts Commission newsletter)
Phil Hardwick – From the Ground Up
Commentary on economic/community development and more.
An independent economic impact study shows that the ninth USA International Ballet Competition generated $10.2 million for Miss. The impact is a 35 percent increase from the 2006 competition and a 61 percent increase over the 2002 event.
Compiled by the Department of Economic and Workforce Development at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg the results are based on program operations and participant/attendee expenditures during the last competition July 12 27, 2010. Other figures from the study reveal just over a $500,000 associated impact for state general fund revenues and also personal income of $5.2 million locally. The economic impact was calculated using ticket data, hotel reports and USA IBC records.
Thirtyone countries were represented by 100 competitors and another five were represented by the international jury. Ticket buyers flocked from 40 states including Puerto Rico and 10 foreign countries. The total attendance for the two-week competition and ancillary events was 27,040. The companion USA IBC dance school drew 258 students from 24 states and two countries. The 2010 event garnered over 2 billion in online and print media impressions and welcomed nearly 800 volunteers from the metro area.
The next USA IBC will be June 1429, 2014, and a Reunion Gala will be held July 14, 2012. MAC would like to congratulate the IBC on being an outstanding example of Mississippi’s Creative Economy!