A new study conducted by Americans for the Arts proves what many already know: the arts mean business in Huntsville/Madison County.

Arts Huntsville has released findings from the latest Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 economic impact study, the nation's most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry.

The study found the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $89.9 million in annual economic activity in Huntsville/Madison County. Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Jauken said this was the first time since 1997 that Arts Huntsville had participated in the study.

This time around, Dillon-Jauken said they worked with 34 local nonprofit arts and culture organizations, who submitted extensive organizational data beginning in 2015 and extending into 2016. They also conducted more than 1,200 attendee surveys at their arts and cultural events.

"Repeatedly, the arts prove to be a tremendous community investment, providing both food for the soul and food for the table across our community," she said.

Dillon-Jauken joined Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Arts Huntsville leaders, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber and other supporters to unveil the findings Tuesday at the Huntsville Museum of Art.

Battle said the outside the box approach of arts and culture affects local industry, providing an employment base in Huntsville/Madison County.

"They take that lesson from the arts, how to do that ingenuity, how to think outside the box and they make it into products," he said.

Here are a few highlights from the study:

$53.8 million

$36.1 million

3,073

$6.6 million

1.5 million

$24.01: Average spending per person, excluding cost of admission.

$36.1 million

The full study is available below: