Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 (AEP5), a study conducted by Americans for the Arts, showed that the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Portland, Maine is growing. The study revealed that spending by Portland nonprofit arts organizations has increased to $75 million. This marks a $26 million increase since 2012, when the previous Arts and Economic Prosperity report was released. These findings confirm that the arts bring economic growth and vitality to the Portland community.

Americans for the Arts and local study partner Creative Portland collected data from 46 nonprofits in Portland. The city of Portland was one of 5 AEP5 study regions in Maine, and one of 341 study regions nationwide.

“I think this reinforces and validates that the arts are an essential economic driver,” said Dinah Minot, executive director of Creative Portland. “A report like this is likely to help [businesses and nonprofits in the creative economy] get more support from the city and from corporate sponsors.”