The arts and cultural sector in Palm Beach County took a more than $48 million economic hit and lost nearly 600 jobs last summer, according to the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.
But venue expansions, along with pent-up demand for entertainment as the pandemic continues, is a bright sign for the sector, says Jennifer Sullivan, vice president of marketing for the council.
“We’re really seeing that tourism is rebounding in Palm Beach County,” said Sullivan. “We’re seeing strong hotel occupancy rates and more admissions at venues around the county. I think we’re gonna really see an increase this summer and fall.”
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The fourth annual MOSAIC — Month of Shows Art, Ideas and Culture — campaign includes deals and discounts at arts and cultural venues and hotels, and runs through the end of the month.
Sullivan said she’s seen a lot of renewed interest for the tours, pop-up performances, botanical gardens, museums, and exhibitions. The county has more than 200 arts and culture organizations, according to Sullivan, with the council dubbing the area, “Florida’s cultural capital.”
She says despite the economic strain from the pandemic, many organizations prepared themselves for reopening.
“I was really impressed with the cultural organizations’ resiliency. It’s a creative sector so you saw a lot of people being really creative and connecting with new audiences in really meaningful ways,” Sullivan said.
“Now that we’re getting back to normal, a lot of organizations never closed or only closed for a short amount of time.”