Author: Kushner, Roland J. and Cohen, Randy

Publication Year: 2009

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This is the 20 page executive summary of the 2009 National Index report, the first annual report of The National Arts Index. The Index is a highly-distilled annual measure of the health and vitality of arts in the U.S. using 76 national-level indicators of arts and culture activity. This report covers an 11-year period, from 1998 to 2008.

Abstract:

After four years of research and development, I am pleased to announce a breakthrough for the arts: The National Arts Index. This represent the first annual report of The National Arts Index. The Index is a highly-distilled annual measure of the health and vitality of arts in the U.S. using 76 national-level indicators of arts and culture activity. This report covers an 11-year period, from 1998 to 2008. This National Arts Index encompasses one of the largest collections of data on arts and culture in the U.S. ever assembled. The information has been gathered from reputable government and private sector sources and covering multiple industriesﾗnonprofit and for-profit arts organizations, artists, funding and investment, employment, attendance and personal creation, and much more.

Readers can compare the 76 indicators and draw their own conclusions about the state of the arts, but as a comparative measure we have averaged all 76 indicators, which gives us a single number we can compare from year to year. As a baseline, we chose the year 2003 and set it at the number 100.

The 2008 National Arts Index score is 98.4, a decline of 4.2 points from its 2007 score of 102.6 (2003=100). A score of 105.5 would return the Index to its highest point, measured in 1999. In addition to a single summary score, we can track many themes and trends.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Economic Impact, Cultural Planning