Our national findings wouldn't be possible without the data collected from 182 participating study regions. Those 182 regions include 139 individual cities and counties, 31 multi-city regions, 10 states, and two arts districts and represent all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The diverse communities range in population from 1,600 to 3.8 million and from small rural to large urban. Our national findings are derived from the data from organizations and audiences in these communities.
Research partners agreed to complete four participation criteria:
1) Identify and code the comprehensive universe of nonprofit arts and culture organizations locate in their study region;
2) Assist with the collection of detailed financial and attendance information from those organizations, and review the information for accuracy;
3) Conduct audience-intercept surveys at a broad, representative sample of cultural events that take place in their study region; and
4) Pay a modest cost-sharing fee. No community was refused participation for an inability to pay.
Download a complete list [PDF] of all 182 study regions.
(organized by population size)
View the study region map to learn more about our study partners.
With the help of our study partners, detailed expenditure data was collected from 9,721 arts and culture organizations and 151,802 of their attendees.
Project economists from Georgia Institute of Technology customized input-output analysis models for each study region to provide specific and reliable economic impact data about the nonprofit arts and culture industries, specifically full-time equivalent jobs, household income, and local and state government revenue. This allows for the uniqueness of each local economy to be reflected in the findings.
Download a Summary of Local Findings for all 182 participating Study Regions: [PDF] [Excel]