Listen to this articleLong Island is known for its tourism hotspots. People from all over the world flock to Long Island for its beaches, vineyards, historical sites, shopping and dining. But do you know what is one of the most integral economic drivers of tourism? Long Island’s arts and cultural organizations.
According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study released by Americans for the Arts and the Long Island Arts Alliance, the nonprofit sector on Long Island generated $330 million in economic activity during 2022. Not only did Long Island’s arts and cultural organizations support almost 5,000 jobs in Nassau and Suffolk counties, but it also generated $81.2 million in tax revenue to local, state and federal governments. Also, the AEP6 study shows how over 11% of visitors were non-local attendees who traveled from outside Nassau and Suffolk to specifically attend a venue or event, spending an average of $63.83 during their visit.
In a time where many of Long Island’s nonprofits are struggling to keep the doors open due to inflation costs and lack of long-term staff, the island’s arts and cultural institutions are continuing to give back to their communities in a multitude of ways. Here are some examples:
*The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM), located on Nassau County’s “Museum Row” in Garden City, has been a well-known family destination since it opened in 1993. Over the years it has welcomed nearly 6 million visitors; drawn to its interactive exhibit galleries, 140-seat professional family theater and hands-on learning opportunities. LICM, the only accredited children’s museum in New York, also manages Nunley’s Carousel, Nassau County’s iconic 112-year old Stein & Goldstein carousel, which like the museum itself, has become a popular destination for visitors across the region, in addition to birthday parties and special events. Next up for LICM, is their new permanent exhibit, “Saltwater Stories: We need the sea and the sea needs me!,” which will celebrate Long Island’s rich maritime history and culture. Saltwater Stories will heighten awareness of the environmental changes affecting the Island, promote ocean literacy, and inspire pride of place for Long Islanders and all who visit. It is slated to open to the public mid-October of 2025.
*The Bay Street Theatre is a 299-seat professional regional theatre located in Sag Harbor and celebrated. A mainstay as a social gathering location, it continues to bring visitors to the East End by offering live theatre productions and educational programs and theatre camps. Throughout the summer, Bay Street offers a line-up of comics for the “summer crowds.”. This small 10-row theatre offers an intimate feel and is known to give back to the community – such as their Hurricane Sandy relief event and holding their children’s workshops which introduces local children to theatre and gives them the chance to have playwrights hear their plays that they have written.
*Long Island’s newest museum is set to open to the public late fall of 2025. The Museum of Disability History, housed within the Kornreich Institute for Disabilities Studies (KIDS) at The Viscardi Center, will be the new home for the collection, which was originally in Buffalo, N.Y. Located in Albertson, the museum will feature artifacts and stories from prominent disability leaders. The students of Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center will have the chance to use the museum as part of their curriculum and it will also be open to the public, school groups, companies and nonprofit organizations.
For Long Island’s economy to keep growing via tourism, we must invest in our local nonprofit arts and cultural institutions. Not only do they bring joy and education to our communities, but they also encourage non-locals to visit and spend money at our local small businesses on Long Island.
A great way to continue this economic growth is for local, state and federal governments to make capital and programmatic investments in the organizations that are already here and help new institutions to find space and help them to get their footing to stay here long term.
Nicole Weingartner is the director of state government affairs at the New York City law office of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP. Known as @TheLongIslandLobbyist, Weingartner assists clients who are located and/or do business on Long Island.
