Published: WFMZ, January 29, 2020
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A first-of-its-kind study took a look at ArtsQuest to find out just how much it does for the community.
Social capital can be summed up as public goods that benefit people, but putting a dollar amount on that is tough. Until now.
Lesa Ukman founded ProSocial Valuation to find that answer, and her first case study is ArtsQuest, which took almost two years to complete.
“You have arts and culture basically saving a town, why isn’t Bethlehem going the way of almost every other Rust Belt city?” Ukman said.
She says that’s thanks to ArtsQuest. She says for every dollar invested in ArtsQuest, there is a $9 return on investment. On things like reduced crime rates, higher property values, and education. That’s what social capital is.
“There’s over 5,000 students in Bethlehem that would not have arts education if not for ArtsQuest,” Ukman said.
Festivals like Musikfest are included in that.
“The issue is, in philanthropy, there is no way for people giving money to know if their money is being used to the best effect,” Ukman said.
But now, thanks to this study, the effects of philanthropy can be measured which in turn can bring more money in.
The data can now be used as model for other cities that are in decline.
