Here’s some good news for your new year. A study published in the Economic Development Quarterly shows that the arts boost urban economies overall.

“Economic development in the current century may favor those metropolitan areas that attract the ‘knowledge class,'” the researchers wrote in the study’s Abstract.

In fact, let’s continue on with the rest of the Abstract:

“This study provides a cross-sectional analysis associating the presence of one or more professional symphony, opera, or ballet/dance organizations with knowledge class growth. The authors find that the presence of one type of such organization is associated with a 1.1 percent change in knowledge class employment over the period from 2000 to 2010, two types are associated with a 1.5 percent change, and all three are associated with a 2.2 percent change. Between 2000 and 2010, the presence of at least one professional performing arts organization is associated with about 540,000 knowledge class jobs, generating about $60 billion in annual income among those 118 metropolitan areas with professional performing arts organizations. Metropolitan economic development implications are offered.”

In addition, areas with only one or two performing arts organizations experienced positive economic impacts. For example, Austin, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee; Providence, Rhode Island; Sacramento, California; and San Antonio, Texas (home of this year’s Performing Arts Managers Conference); “each generated over $200 million in knowledge-class income.”

For more on the study, please read Richard Florida’s article, “How the Arts Add to Urban Economies” in CityLab.

(Image: Lake Crimson/Creative Commons)

These are selected news articles that showed up in our inboxes on Monday morning that we want to pass along to you.

How CES is Handling Security at its Massive Show (Trade Show Executive)
“The most-visible security requirements will be at the entry points. Each attendee will have to pass through a metal detector, and new restrictions on luggage and other bags will be in place to prevent contraband from entering.”

Local Nonprofit Uses Baseball Stadiums to Help Find Missing Kids (ActionNewsJax.com)
“The Bairfind Foundation has put up signs for missing children in 40 minor league baseball stadiums across the country so far with the goal of reaching all 160 minor league stadiums and eventually all arenas and stadiums nationwide.”

The Tech That Will Change Your Life in 2016 (The Wall Street Journal)
“Science fiction will become science fact this year when you take virtual-reality vacations and your dishwasher reorders its own soap. Are you ready for a drone that follows you around like paparazzi?”

Now Anyone Can Play Goalie for the New York Rangers (FORTUNE)
“The experience is located on the main concourse, where guests can put on an HTC Vive head-mounted display and use hand controllers to simulate the goalie stick and blocker pad.”

5 NBA Tech Storylines From 2015 That Will Further Evolve the League in 2016 (SportTechie.com)
“The NBA is one of the most–if not the most–technologically advanced leagues in this day and age.”

(Image: Dave Taylor/Creative Commons)

Thank you members, partners, sponsors, and volunteer leaders for helping make 2015 an eventful year at IAVM! We’re grateful for all of the great things that happen when we work together, and we look forward to where that will take us in 2016.

It’s that time of year again as our Leadership/Nominating Committee prepare to select the 2nd Vice Chair for IAVM who will ascend to the role of Chairman of the Board in 2018!

Could this be you? Thanks to all the hard work our Governance Committee has put in this year, they have made the criteria and process as simple and as transparent as possible. Click to see the criteria and application.

IAVM is the “mothership” of all we hold near and dear in this industry that we love. Why not truly become a part of molding its future? Since day one, the IAVM’s leadership has been a strong force in ensuring we live by our mission: “To educate, advocate for, and inspire public assembly venue professionals worldwide.” If those words resonate with you, then this may be the perfect role for you.

Our volunteers give so much of their time and talent to working alongside our IAVM CEO and staff so that we work as one to produce the best deliverables we can. Our membership continues to grow and strengthen the quality and depth of those joining us in our passion for venue management. Won’t you consider helping us lead this industry that has given you so much?

Please consider applying for the role of 2nd Vice Chair today. The deadline to receive completed applications is January 31. Let this be your 2016 resolution!

I look forward to seeing your name in the mix. Happy 2016!

A certain science-fiction movie opened over the weekend, but not every droid wanted to see it. For example, this little guy just wanted to go see Jersey Boys at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas.