➤ATtENDANCE
The CIGs host about 18 million annual visitors. Each year 2.5 million children visit, including many New York City schoolchildren and campers. Of this group, 750,000 attend on-site educational programs. An additional 250,000 school children attend off-site programs offered in partnership with local community organizations.
➤workforce development
The CIGs are job creators with 15,700 full- and part-time employees, including 5,800 union employees with an average union salary of $49,000. Staff at CIGs are largely New York City residents, so wages paid to employees are often spent within the surrounding communities, providing neighborhood economic benefits. CIGs also provide invaluable opportunities for students and young adults to gain critical career-development skills through internships and leadership opportunities. In addition, CIGs employ 6,000 per diem staff members (teaching artists, musicians, explainers, educators, and more).
➤Economic Drivers
The CIGs are a vital component of our local economy, attracting both domestic and international tourists. The comparatively modest investment by the City translates into very substantial economic returns—generating some $8 in economic activity for every $1 of City support and contributing directly to more than 15,000 jobs and to business development in neighborhoods throughout all five boroughs. As a collective, CIGs receive 16% ($115M) of their funding from the Department of Cultural Affairs and raise more than four times more from non-city sources ($585M). They have a strong and direct impact on the city economy, spending $491M on local vendors for goods and services.