This blog compares the Regional Arts Commission’s 2012 and 2025 economic impact studies to show how the value of arts and culture in Greater St. Louis has evolved across recession, recovery, and pandemic disruption. While total economic activity, income, and public revenue have grown substantially, the analysis reveals that impact today is measured not only in dollars and jobs, but also in community strength, equity, and civic identity. Together, the two studies demonstrate how economic impact analysis functions as a tool of governance and public legitimacy—not just accounting.