State's arts growth adds jobs, revenue
The nonprofit arts and culture sector accounted for $131.2 million in economic activity in Northwest Arkansas during fiscal 2015, according to a study conducted by Americans for the Arts.
The Arts and Economic Prosperity study, conducted nationally every five years, also determined the art industry in Benton and Washington counties accounted for 4,647 full-time jobs and generated $14.3 million in local and state government revenue.
Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Northwest Arkansas spent $67.5 million during 2015, while audiences spent $63.7 million. The Walton Arts Center compiled data from 23 local nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. Patrons also were surveyed about their spending.
The Northwest Arkansas results were an increase from 2010 when the sector had a total economic impact of $45.5 million -- $30.9 million spent by organizations and $14.6 million by audiences -- and supported 1,488 full-time jobs.
Nationally, the industry generated $166.3 billion of economic activity, supported 4.6 million jobs and produced $27.5 billion in government revenue.
-- Robbie Neiswanger
UA to host meeting on hunger concerns
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will host students from 76 American Indian tribes nationwide as part of the law school's Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit, a 10-day event now in its fourth year, according to a news release.
Starting July 16, students will learn about the food and health issues pertinent to American Indian people. Wal-Mart and groups such as the Indian Land Tenure Foundation and the Future Farmers of America are sending representatives. Topics also include business and food preservation.
This includes a visit to the "This Is Hunger" display near downtown Fayetteville.
"The exhibit will help students understand how the food insecurity issues they confront in Native communities fit in the greater struggle for national and international food security," according to a news release.
-- Dalton LeFerney
Arkansas Index falls ahead of 2Q reports
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, fell 4.03 to 334.12 Monday.
All but four stocks lost ground.
Total volume for the index was 29.9 million shares. The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 07/11/2017