Arts and cultural organizations and their events contribute a total of $17.3 million a year to the Grand Junction economy, according to the latest analysis of the sector.

In the process, arts and culture supports the equivalent of 512 full-time jobs, creates $12.9 million in household income and generates $1.4 million in local and state fees and taxes, according to the results of the analysis released by the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture.

The commission partnered with Americans for the Arts to assess the economic effects of the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Grand Junction.

The analysis is part of Arts and Economic Prosperity 5,  the fifth analysis of the economic effects of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences nationwide.

In Grand Junction, the commission gathered the results of surveys of 1,551 people attending performances, exhibits and other arts and cultural events during 2016.

A total of 32 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Grand Junction also provided information about their groups and attendance at their events during the 2015 fiscal year.

Nonprofit arts and cultural groups reported spending a total of $11.3 million on wages and the purchase of goods and services. Spending supported the equivalent of 339 jobs, created $9.35 million in household income and generated $767,000 in local and state government fees and taxes.

People who attended events spent almost $6 million on lodging, restaurant meals and purchases at other local businesses. Their spending supported the equivalent of 173 full-time jobs, created nearly $3.6 million in household income and generated $625,000 in government revenues.

According to the survey results, those who live outside Mesa County spent an average of $72.12 to attend events, including lodging, meals and transportation. Nearly 55 percent of those said they came to Grand Junction specifically to attend an event. Mesa County residents spent an average of  $18.29.

The analysis also found that 1,980 volunteers contributed a total of nearly 100,000 hours to arts and cultural organizations — a donation valued at a collective $2.3 million at a rate of $23.56 an hour. The organizations reported receiving a total of almost $260,000 worth of in-kind contributions.

The complete analysis is posted online at www.gjarts.org.