Governor Spanberger visit to TAG

The Arts Are Economic Development

Today, Virginia Governor Spanberger visited the Tappahannock Artists Guild as part of her tour of Tappahannock, giving us an opportunity to share how the arts contribute to the strength and vitality of our community.

What happens when you invest in the arts? The impact reaches far beyond the gallery walls.

TAG supports more than 50 local and regional artists each year, offers classes and workshops, creates opportunities for young people, and brings exhibitions and events to downtown Tappahannock.

And when people come to TAG, they don’t just visit a gallery. They eat at local restaurants, shop downtown, stay in local lodging, and discover everything Tappahannock has to offer.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Virginia’s arts and cultural sector contributed approximately $21 billion to the state economy in 2023 and supported nearly 118,000 jobs.

That’s why public investment in the arts matters.

Support from the Commonwealth and Virginia’s Main Street program has helped TAG strengthen its facilities, expand programming and build its capacity as a community arts organization.

The arts are more than an amenity. They are part of a thriving local economy.

They support artists.

They support small businesses.

They attract visitors.

They bring people downtown.

And they help make Tappahannock a place where people want to live, work and visit.

Investing in the arts is investing in Tappahannock.