research
Topic: Public Funding for the Arts
Arts funding in America is comprised of public dollars, private support, and earned income that is critical to the economic vitality of state and local communities and to our nation’s cultural well-being.
Direct public support for the arts is disseminated through federal, state, and local arts agencies. Less than 10 percent of arts funding comes from the public sector, but these funds play a critical role in leveraging support for the remainder of arts funding.
The primary arts funding agency at the Federal level is the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established by Congress in 1965. All 50 states and U.S. territories are served by a state arts agency that oversees state arts funding and policy. In addition, there are over 4,000 Local Arts Agencies that provide public and private financial support to organizations and individual artists.
For current information on federal, state, and local legislation that affects the arts and arts funding, visit the Americans for the Arts Action Center.