Americans for the Arts

The Performing Artist Companion to Animating Democracy’s framework, Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change, offers ideas and insights to help performing artists and performance companies apply the framework to address their needs and interests.  Aesthetic Perspectives aims to enhance understanding and evaluation of creative work at the intersection of arts and community/civic engagement, community development, and justice. It offers 11 artistic attributes that elevate aesthetics in civically and socially engaged art,

The Teaching Artist Companion to Aesthetic Perspectives: Attributes of Excellence in Arts for Change, written by Dennie Palmer Wolf and Jeannette Rodríguez Píneda with contributing teaching artists, shares how teaching artists, and the programs and institutions that support them, embody and activate the values in the Aesthetic Perspectives framework.

Museums and Civic Dialogue features exhibition projects that demonstrate how three museums have functioned as provocative and effective forums for civic dialogue. Focusing on contemporary and conceptual works of art as well as historic images, the projects highlight new and adapted approaches to curatorial practice, interpretation, and education prompted by civic intention. The case studies also offer insights regarding institutional challenges and changes in practice that necessarily occurred. Through Gene(sis): Contemporary Art Explores Human Genomics, Henry

As counted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 2.6 million artists in the U.S. workforce—1.6% of all workers. The unemployment rate for artists grew from 3.7% in 2019 to 10.3% in 2020.

Local arts agencies—arts councils, arts commissions, cultural affairs departments—are an essential tool for community leaders as they rebuild their economies and promote social cohesion. The nation’s 4,500 local arts agencies (LAAs) support, present, and promote the dynamic value of the arts. Through their partnerships and leadership, LAAs are building healthier communities through the arts.

This one-pager is a summary of research by Americans for the Arts and others on the human and financial impact of the COVID -19-pandemic impact on the arts. Data current as of 5/122022.

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts are also a fundamental component of a healthy community—strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persist even in difficult social and economic times.

Businesses large and small use the arts to foster creativity, innovation, and a culture of trust. These six approaches can be used to bring the arts into a workplace and boost employee engagement and morale. 

This fact sheet provides data and examples of how the arts offer meaningful, enjoyable experiences and valuable benefits to employees and their families which keeps employees engaged.

This fact sheet provides data and examples of how the arts stimulate positive company culture and conversation, foster employee well-being, and inspire a healthier work environment through unique and meaningful experiences for human connection.

This fact sheet provides data and examples of how the arts foster inspiration, empathy, and leadership - all which establish a platform to innovate in an ever-evolving economy.

This fact sheet provides data and examples of how the arts reveal and enhance the breadth of talent and creativity among employees and teams, cultivating the creative thinking skills your business needs.

This one pager features data from Americans for the Arts 2017 Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 report providing key figures of the overall economic impact the arts industry provides.

Americans Speak Out About The Arts in 2018: An In-Depth Look at Perceptions and Attitudes About the Arts in America  

Author(s): Americans for the Arts

Date of Publication: September 2018

Americans are highly engaged in the arts and believe more strongly than ever that the arts promote personal well-being, help us understand other cultures in our community, are essential to a well-rounded K-12 education, and that government has an important role in funding the arts.

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