How To Use The Arts Impact Explorer

Here you will find written and video instructions to guide you through all of the different features of the Arts Impact Explorer, including how you can contribute resources to be featured on the site or for use in your own or other's custom fact sheets. See how you can navigate all the different Arts + Intersections of the Explorer. Learn how to build your own custom fact sheet. Add arts projects from your community or publications that you have found insightful.

Start here to see all of the ways you can interact with the Arts Impact Explorer website!

Transcript: This video roughly follows the written instructions available on this page, however you may view the video's full transcript here. Captions are also available in the YouTube video player.

How to Navigate the Arts Impact Explorer

  1. First, navigate to the Explorer in the website menu.
    2. A webpage with a black heading, yellow banner and white background. The webpage features text about the Arts and Impact Explorer as well as a cropped image of the wheel. The wheel features different shades of red and purple with text on the slices of the wheel. There is a red arrow pointing to a red circle in the middle of the page. Within the red circle is a word in blue that reads 'Explorer'.
  2. The Arts Impact Explorer wheel has many different arts intersections to choose from. To begin viewing impact points, project examples, publications, and more, select an intersection's slice on the wheel.
    3. A cropped wheel is in the forefront. The wheel is sliced in to smaller sections each a different shade of the rainbow and with word or phrase featured. One slice is selected, it has turned white and has a light blue line around it. In the center of the wheel a small paragraph has appeared along with arrows on either side of the paragraph and a button below the paragraph saying 'Learn More'. There is a red arrow pointing to a red circle overlaying the white slice, encircling the words on the slice, 'Youth Ed.'
  3. The wheel will spin and highlight the intersection you have chosen. In the middle of the wheel, your selected intersection with a brief description will appear, and you can then use the left and right arrows to scroll through slides of resource categories available for that intersection.
  4. To learn more about a certain slide, you can click on the "Learn More" button at any time. A side bar with information will then slide out to appear on the right-hand side of your browser.
    5. A cropped wheel is in the forefront. The wheel is sliced in to smaller sections each a different shade of the rainbow and with word or phrase featured. One slice is selected, it has turned white and has a light blue line around it. In the center of the wheel a small paragraph has appeared along with arrows on either side of the paragraph and a button below the paragraph saying 'Learn More'. There is a red arrow pointing to a red circle within the center of the wheel, encircling the words, 'Learn More'.
  5. At any time when viewing the expanded side bar information for a given intersection, you can click the "Fact Sheet" download button in the upper right-hand side of the window to download a pre-designed Fact Sheet with that intersection's information contained within it.
    6. There is an overlay on top of the wheel. The overlay features the text 'Youth Education' and a few paragraphs of text. There is a red button in the upper right hand corner that says 'Fact Sheet' and has a small image indicating the fact sheet is downloadable. A red arrow points to a red circle that is encircling the Fact Sheet button.
  6. Looking for an alternative way to navigate the Arts Impact Explorer? You can switch from the wheel view to a list view of all the arts intersections, where you can expand and view all the intersections' resources in one place.
    7. The list view of the Arts Impact Explorer, showing 9 different intersections in a rainbow gradient, with the list view icon circled in the top right corner with a red arrow pointing to it.

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How to Build A Fact Sheet

  1. To create a fact sheet, first you will need to log in to your Americans for the Arts website account. You can also create a new website account or verify if you have one, if needed.
    2. A webpage with a black heading, yellow banner and white background. The webpage features text about the Arts and Impact Explorer as well as a cropped image of the wheel. The wheel features different shades of red and purple with text on the slices of the wheel. There is a red arrow pointing to a red circle in the upper right hand corner. Within the red circle are blue words that say log in.
  2. Navigate to the Build A Fact Sheet tool in the website menu. There are 6 steps to complete to create your own customized fact sheet, though every step is optional, depending on what you would like to include in your fact sheet.
    A large red banner at the top features the text,
    1. Step 1: Select up to three arts intersections you would like to focus your fact sheet upon. This will filter the remaining steps to only show data relevant to those intersections; it may also take a moment for the filter to process.
    2. Step 2: Select up to 6 data points to include in your fact sheet. You can click the data point heading to view the full details.
    3. Step 3: Select up to 6 projects to feature in your fact sheet. You can click the project to view its full details. You may also filter to show projects by state or favorited projects, though these filters may show projects outside of your selected arts intersection(s). If you would like to add a project for use in a custom fact sheet, please view the "How to Add a Project to the Local Projects Database" instructions.
    4. Step 4: Select up to 3 publications to feature in your fact sheet. You can click the publication to view its full details. You may also filter to show favorited publications, though these filters may show publications outside of your selected arts intersection(s). If you would like to add a publication for use in a custom fact sheet, please view the "How to Add a Publication to the National Arts Publications Database" instructions.
    5. Step 5: Select up to 3 organizations to feature in your fact sheet. You may also enter keywords to search through the organizations list or filter organizations by state.
    6. Step 6: You may further customize your fact sheet by giving it a title and a description, and you may upload your organization’s logo as well.
  3. When you’ve made your inputs, click ‘Submit & Save’ to be taken to your custom fact sheet. Fact sheets are available for 6 months after creation on the Arts Impact Explorer website. You have multiple options for sharing and using your new fact sheet:
    1. You can share it via various social media platforms using the links above the heading.
    2. You can share it via email using the link above the heading.
    3. You can download a PDF version of the fact sheet to share. A formatted and accessible PDF are both available.
      4. A gray banner reads 'The Arts + Fact Sheet'. Below the banner in yellow is the text 'Fact Sheet' then a gray line and in blue 'Impact Points'. Above the gray banner on the right are two images of sheets of paper. One says 'Formatted' and the other says 'Accessible'. A red arrow points to a red circle that is around the images of the paper.

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How to Add a Project to the Local Projects Database

  1. To add a project, first you will need to log in to your Americans for the Arts website account. You can also create a new website account or verify if you have one, if needed.
    2. A webpage with a black heading, yellow banner and white background. The webpage features text about the Arts and Impact Explorer as well as a cropped image of the wheel. The wheel features different shades of red and purple with text on the slices of the wheel. There is a red arrow pointing to a red circle in the upper right hand corner. Within the red circle are blue words that say log in.
  2. Navigate to the Local Projects Database in the website menu. Underneath the top featured project labeled “Latest Project”, you should find a banner that reads “Want to add your local project to the database?” with a link that reads “Submit a Project” which will take you to the Project submission form.
    3. On the left is a list of different topics you can select. On the rest of the page is a large block with an image inside. Below the image is a blue banner with the text 'Want to add your local project to the database?' on the right and on the left, 'Submit a project'. A red arrow points to a red circle encircling the text 'Submit a project'.
  3. Complete the form to the best of your ability detailing the project you would like to submit. Note that required fields will be marked by a red asterisk (and you will also be alerted if you attempt to submit the form without filling them out), but not every field is required for submission. Additionally, most fields have associated help text that will provide additional, specific instructions.
  4. When you’ve filled out the form, click the ‘Save’ button at the bottom at the bottom. You will be brought to a preview of your submitted project. Your project has now been submitted to be reviewed by Americans for the Arts staff and should be live in the database within two to three business days, or we may follow up to request additional details if needed.
    5. The bottom of a form including boxes to fill out for longitude and state and region. At the bottom is a blue button that has the word Save inside. A red arrow points to a red circle around the save button.

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How to Edit an Existing Project in the Local Projects Database

  1. To edit a project, first you will need to log in to your Americans for the Arts website account. You can also create a new website account or verify if you have one, if needed.
    2. A webpage with a black heading, yellow banner and white background. The webpage features text about the Arts and Impact Explorer as well as a cropped image of the wheel. The wheel features different shades of red and purple with text on the slices of the wheel. There is a red arrow pointing to a red circle in the upper right hand corner. Within the red circle are blue words that say log in.
  2. Navigate to the Local Projects Database in the site menu and browse the database to find the project you would like to edit. You can utilize the filter menu to narrow down the projects shown, if needed. Click the project to view its full details.
  3. On the project’s page, you should see a button that reads “Edit Project”. Click that button to be brought to the project’s form where you can make any desired changes to the project.
    4. A title reads 'Live Forever -Infranatural'. Below it on the left side is smaller text with details like project added date and an image of the project. On the right side is a description and other details. There are also three red buttons in the upper right hand side. One has the text 'Edit Project'. A black arrow points to a black circle that overlays the Edit Project button.
  4. Make changes as desired, and click the ‘Save’ button at the bottom at the bottom. You will be brought to a preview of your submitted updates. Your edits have now been submitted to be reviewed by Americans for the Arts staff and should be live in the database within two to three business days, or we may follow up to request additional details if needed.

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How to Add a Publication to the National Arts Publications Database

  1. To add a publication, first you will need to log in to your Americans for the Arts website account. You can also create a new website account or verify if you have one, if needed.
    2. A webpage with a black heading, yellow banner and white background. The webpage features text about the Arts and Impact Explorer as well as a cropped image of the wheel. The wheel features different shades of red and purple with text on the slices of the wheel. There is a red arrow pointing to a red circle in the upper right hand corner. Within the red circle are blue words that say log in.
  2. Navigate to the National Arts Publications Database in the website menu. Underneath the top search and filters widget, you should find a banner that reads “Want to add a publication to the database?” with a link that reads “Submit an Entry for Review” which will take you to the Publication submission form.
    3. A database search box is at the top along side boxes you can check with search options and a red button with the word search in it. Below it are three blue rectangles that you can click on to filter your search through different parameters. Below that is a red banner with text 'Want to add a publication to the database?' and 'Submit an entry for review.' Below that is a database entry example. A black arrow points to a black circle on the text 'Submit an entry for review'.
  3. Complete the form to the best of your ability detailing the publication you would like to submit. Note that required fields will be marked by a red asterisk (and you will also be alerted if you attempt to submit the form without filling them out), but not every field is required for submission. Additionally, most fields have associated help text that will provide additional, specific instructions.
  4. When you’ve filled out the form, click the ‘Save’ button at the bottom at the bottom. You will be brought to a preview of your submitted publication. Your publication entry has now been submitted to be reviewed by Americans for the Arts staff and should be live in the database within two to three business days, or we may follow up to request additional details if needed.

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