Since 1973 the American Council for the Arts has commissioned nationwide public opinion surveys on the arts. The first five Americans and the Arts surveys were conducted by the National Research Center of the Arts, an affiliate of Louis Harris and Associates, and were published between 1974 and 1987. The sixth survey was directed by Louis Harris and completed by LH Research in 1992.

The complete series of surveys provides insights into the public's attitudes about the arts over a 20-year period. They cover such areas as arts participation, funding, education and artists. Survey analyses also discuss the effects of societal changes on the arts, particularly those such as reduced leisure time, longer working hours, and women's increased participation in the workforce. (p. 105)