One way to gauge the health and vitality of a community is to measure the extent to which its residents have the ability and make an effort to participate in arts, cultural, and recreational activities. Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts, has been quoted as saying “the study and appreciation of the arts and humanities serve as both the unifying force in society and as a vehicle for individual expression."

We too think that participation in these activities helps to improve the overall quality of life of Pierce County residents, and that a thriving arts community has the potential to attract new businesses to the area.  In this section we take a look at a measure of the strength of our arts economy, as well as rates of participation in cultural and recreational activities.