Author: Harper, Francis

Publication Year: 1981

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This assessment of Washington DC area arts organizations reports that in fiscal 1980 they had expenditures of $82.8 million and employed 1,303 full time and 11,086 were part time. In the last decade, Washington has emerged as a major cultural center offering a rich variety of arts and humanities programming at both the national and local levels. (from abstract)

Abstract:

This assessment of Washington DC area arts organizations reports that in fiscal 1980 they had expenditures of $82.8 million and employed 1,303 full time and 11,086 were part time. In the last decade, Washington has emerged as a major cultural center offering a rich variety of arts and humanities programming at both the national and local levels. The Smithsonian Institution, as well as major, private arts organizations such as the National Symphony and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, are recognized as national and international showcases of American artistry at its best. Smaller but equally fine institutions have contributed to the area's emergence as a cultural capital. Grass roots arts organizations now exist in all parts of the region and their offering, from the traditional to the folk, classical to the avant garde, enhance the rich cultural diversity of the national capital area.

With such rapid growth, it is not surprising that little comprehensive information has been available about the nature, scope and diversity of arts organizations in the metropolitan area. In 1980, the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, recognizing the need for such a data base, approached the Community Foundation of Greater Washington to conduct a comprehensive examination of the area's arts organizations which would examine programs, attendance, facilities, personnel and finances. That task was accepted by the Foundation's Board of Directors in Spring 1980 and the project begun.

342 organizations, out of an estimated field of 450, provided information for the assessment, establishing one of the most comprehensive data bases on an arts community ever assembled. While this report has formatted information according to geographic location, additional computer access would allow for formatting and analysis of the data according to jurisdiction, size of budget, type of program, etc.

Metropolitan Washington Arts Organizations: what are they?

• They are young: 76.3% of the arts organizations participating in the Cultural Assessment were established within the last twenty years. 58.2% were established within the last ten years.
  
  
• They are small: 64% of the reporting organizations had operating levels in FY 1979 under $25,000. 80% of the organizations reported operating levels under $100,000. The 3% who had levels in excess of $1 million accounted for 83% of the total expenditures reported.
  
  
• They are active: In their most recently completed fiscal year, arts organizations in metropolitan Washington reported 595 exhibitions, 5,601 performances, 87 humanities oriented symposia/conferences, 291 literary events and 422 film, radio, and television activities. These same organizations offered 4,729 courses, seminars and workshops during the same period. One-third of the respondents conducted programs in schools during their most recently completed fiscal year. One fifth conducted programs for the handicapped, as well as programs in hospitals, prisons and other public institutions. Over one-half sponsored outdoor activities such as street theatre, outdoor concerts, arts nd crafts fairs and festivals.
  
  
• They are popular: In FY 1980, 7.2 million persons attended exhibitions, performances and events in metropolitan Washington. (This figure does not include attendance at the Washington-based museums of the Smithsonian, which, in FY 1980, was approximately 21 million persons).
  
  
• They are employers: 12,389 paid staff were employed by respondent organizations in the year of record. 1,303 of these staff positions were full time; 11,086 were part time. 999 CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) positions were also reported, 144 of which were full time and 855 of which were part time positions.
  
  
• They are a business: In FY 1980, arts organizations in the Washington metropolitan area reported expenditures of $82.8 million. (This figure does not include the Smithsonian Institution, whose total operating budget for FY 1980 was $202 million.
  
  
• They are fragile: Well over half of these organizations have no full-time personnel. Of those that do, many have only one employee, and that one person must function as artist, administrator, teacher, fundraiser and publicist.

CONTENTS
Foreword.
Metropolitan Washington Arts Organizations: Where are they?
Summary of findings.
Introduction.
Program.
Audience.
Facilities.
Personnel.
Finances.
Economic Impact Considerations.
Appendices:
     A. Survey respondents included in findings.
     B. Survey instruments.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Cultural Diversity, Creative Economies