Thanks to a new study by Christopher B. Colburn, associate professor of economics, nonprofit cultural institutions in Hampton Roads can clearly demonstrate the importance of the arts.

The study, "Economic Impact of Cultural Organizations in Hampton Roads," shows that the combined impact of more than 500 institutions in 1998 was $510.2 million.

"Now we know what our value is beyond contributions to our quality of life," said Minette Cooper, president of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads, which commissioned the report.

Colburn surveyed cultural organizations, such as museums, visual arts organizations, festival presenters and city agencies that work with the cultural arts. The study focused on jobs created by the industry, taxes paid and resultant spending.

According to the study, cultural institutions employed 7,617 workers last year and generated $8.1 million in local taxes. Their payroll, $123.2 million, is about equal to Hampton Roads' insurance, printing and publishing or auto repair sectors and ranks in the top third of the area's service sector.

Colburn first surveyed the economic impact of nonprofit cultural institutions in Hampton Roads in 1992. That year, organizations had a total economic impact of $275 million, employed 6,000 workers, paid $6.3 million in taxes, and spent $13 million locally on goods and services. Compared with 1992, employment is up 25 percent, salaries are up 19 percent, taxes rose 200 percent and spending in Hampton Roads is up 64 percent.

Expansions at Nauticus, Colonial Williamsburg, the Children's Museum of Virginia and the regionwide Virginia Waterfront Arts Festival contributed to the growth, said Colburn.

The study is widely used by cultural arts organizations to solicit aid from private donors and local, state and federal governments.