" Our cultural industry is not an afterthought or a nice to have — it is core to what makes a great community and these numbers quantify it."

Palm Beach County's vibrant arts and culture scene packs a huge economic impact.

In the 2015 fiscal year, 1.3 million visitors to 19 of the county's main arts and cultural attractions spent an estimated $538 million on culture-related activities, a new report by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County concludes.

Of that amount, 64 percent or $346 million was spent by tourists, while locals accounted for 36 percent or $192 million.

Read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.