This month, San Francisco released a study of the social and economic impacts of the arts on our city. The study is a deep-dive into the ways in which San Francisco arts organizations (both big and small) not only “provide residents and visitors… entertainment and personal enrichment,” but how as an industry they are deeply embedded in their communities, generating economic growth and stability through employment, the purchasing of goods and services, and by supporting other businesses that rely on their presence.

In the undertaking of this study, prepared by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, nearly 40 Executive and Artistic Directors in San Francisco were interviewed, with the goal of assessing the economic contributions of the arts in San Francisco and the impact of Covid on these organizations.

Brava’s Executive Director, Anastacia Powers Cuellar, is one of the voices reflected in the report. Having spent close to a decade as Brava’s ED in the Mission, she knows first hand the economic impact our theater has on our surrounding neighborhood, including the 15% increase in business restaurants see on performance days (pre-pandemic of course).

Read the full report here. (Jump to page 29 for more on Brava.)