With the local arts community facing many challenges, American for the Arts wanted to develop a current picture of trends at the local level.
So we developed the Local Arts Funding Listening Post: A Survey of Local Arts Agencies.
In late March, Americans for the Arts’ Research Department distributed a very short survey in order to take the pulse of our field.
Here are the questions we asked:
Over the next 12 months, I expect that paid attendance to cultural events that take place in my community will…
• Increase
• Stay the same
• Decrease
Over the next 12 months, I expect the staffing level of your organization will…
• Increase
• Stay the same
• Decrease
Which one choice below best describes your level of concern about the financial health of your organization during the next 12 months?
• Optimistic — we are in solid shape
• Not too worried — we will weather the storm
• I’m concerned — we need to dig deep
• Pessimistic — this is going to be a huge challenge
During the next 12 months, do you anticipate that any of the following will happen in your community…?
• A core arts organization will cease operations due to lack of funding
• Local government will consider total de-funding of the arts
• Arts organizations will merge with one another
• A new initiative will be launched to increase the public’s level of personal creation and involvement in the arts
• The arts community will come together to address changing trends in arts attendance and consumption
• The level of collaboration will increase between arts organizations and other community groups/agencies
Over 500 Local Arts Agencies responded to the survey.
Here are a few highlights:
• 44% of LAAs said that local government arts funding will stay the same, while 49% said it will decrease.
• 51% of LAAs said that in the previous 12 months local government arts funding decreased while 43% said it stayed the same.
• 59% of LAAs said that over the next 12 months paid attendance will stay the same.
• 74% of LAAs said that staffing levels will remain the same.
• Only 13% of LAAs said they were optimistic about the financial health of their organization while 36% said they were concerned and will need to dig deep.
To view the complete survey results, visit our website.