NATIONAL ARTS PUBLICATION DATABASE (NAPD)
Urban Arts Federation 1999: A Statistical Report About the Budgets and Programming of Arts Councils in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities (Fiscal Year 1998)

Author:

Publication Year: 1998

Media Type: Report

Summary:

During the fall of 1998, Americans for the Arts surveyed the local arts agencies in the 50 largest U.S. cities. Detailed data about revenues and expenditures, budget history, and arts programming were collected. This report is based on survey responses and telephone interviews from the local arts agencies in all 50 cities (100 percent compliance).

Abstract:

This report [is] about the Urban Arts Federation (USUAF), the alliance of local arts agencies in the nation's 50 largest cities. Americans for the Arts defines a Local Arts Agency (LAA) as a community organization or an agency of local government which supports cultural institutions, provides services to artists and arts organizations, and presents programming to the public. LAAs promote the arts at the local level, endeavoring to make them part of the daily fabric of community living. Each LAA in America is as unique as the community that it serves, and each changes as fast as its community changes: no two are exactly alike. However, all share the goals of serving the diverse art forms in their community and making them accessible to each member of that community. There are 4,000 LAAs in the .

LAA activities can be divided into five general areas. All LAAs are involved in one or more of these:

  1. Cultural programming: 92% of the USUAF present cultural events, arts in education, art in public places, festivals, and gap programming. Gap programming fills an arts discipline void that may exist due to a limited number of arts organizations in the community or targets a specific underserved segment of the community.
  2. Grantmaking: 90% of the USUAF provide public and private financial support to arts organizations and/or artists. LAA funds are provided to both emerging and established organizations for operational support or to produce a special project. These dollars are usually required to be matched by another funding source. Funding to individual artists includes fellowships, public art commissions, and support to artists who work in the schools and other community development settings.
  3. Facility management: 56% of the USUAF manage one or more cultural facilities such as rehearsal and performance space, museums, or arts organization incubators.
  4. Services to artists and arts organizations: 94% of the USUAF provide a myriad of services including technical assistance, fundraising, block booking, central accounting and marketing, group health insurance, and advocacy.
  5. Community cultural planning: 60% of the USUAF lead the community-inclusive process of assessing the cultural needs of the community and mapping a plan of implementation.

During fall 1998, Americans for the Arts surveyed the local arts agencies in the 50 largest U.S. cities. Detailed data about revenues and expenditures, budget history, and programming were collected. This report is based on survey responses and telephone interviews from the local arts agencies in all 50 cities.

Executive Summary:

Local Arts Agency Budgets:

  • Collectively USUAF budgets increased from $245.7 million to $266.3 million between 1997 and 1998 - an 8.4% increase.
  • The average budget of LAAs in the 50 largest cities increased from $4.91 million to $5.33 million between 1997 and 1998 - an 8.4% increase.
  • Since 1990, budget increases have averaged 6.3% annually.

Local Government Support to LAAs:

  • Collectively, local government support to USUAFs increased from $206.3 to $222.0 million between 1997 and 1998 - a 7.6% increase.
  • The average amount of local government funding to LAAs in the 50 largest cities increased from $4.13 to $4.44 million between 1997 and 1998 - a 7.6% increase.
  • Local government support to LAAs has increased an average of 5.5% annually since 1990.
  • 50% of the USUAF anticipate an increase in city government support during the next three years; 38% anticipate no change.

Funding to Artists and Arts Organizations:

  • 90% of LAAs provide funds to arts organizations.
  • 52% of LAAs provide funds to individual artists.
  • 56% of grant money is used to fund general operating support, 40% is used to fund special projects (1995 data).

Arts and Community Development:

  • Since 1996, 100% of USUAF members use the arts to address social, educational and economic development issues in their community.
  • In 1997, 76% addressed five or more community development issues - a significant increase from the 60% who reported addressing five or more in 1996.
  • Following are selected community development issues and the percentage of USUAF members using the arts to address them:
         Cultural/Racial Awareness: 9%. 
         Youth At Risk: 88%. 
         Economic Development: 82%.
         Crime Prevention: 62%.

Collaborations and Partnerships:

  • 98% of the USUAF collaborate with other local government agencies:
         Parks and Recreation: 94%.
         Neighborhood and Community Organizations: 84%.
         School Districts: 82%.
         Library: 74%.
         Convention and Visitors Bureau: 72%.

Cultural Programming:

  • Cultural Tourism - 92% of the USUAF provide cultural programming to their community:
         Arts in Education: 92%.
         Cultural Tourism: 82%.
         Public Art: 70%.

USUAF Opinion Survey:

  • The majority of LAAs in the 50 largest U.S. cities expect arts funding increases from both their local public and private sectors in the next three years:
         52% anticipate an increase in local private sector funding.
         86% anticipate increased collaborations with other local agencies.
         80% anticipate an increase in their level of arts and community
         development programming.
         70% indicate that arts funding from the federal government is
         important in leveraging arts funding from their local government (28%
         indicated it is extremely important). (p. 1-3)

CONTENTS
Introduction.
Methodology.
Executive summary.
7-year budget history (includes New York City).
7-year budget history (excludes New York City).
Average percentage of budget change.
Federal, State, Local government arts support compared.
Sources of 1997 revenue.
1997 local arts agency expenditures.
Arts and community development programming.
Funding to artists and arts organizations.
Program, plans, collaborations.
USUAF opinion survey.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Organizational Planning, Grantmaking, Governance, Fundraising, Funding, Cultural Planning

ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Series Title:

Edition:

URL:

SBN/ISSN:

Pages: 21

Resources: Document

PUBLISHER INFORMATION

Name: Americans for the Arts

Website URL: https://www.americansforthearts.org