Survey of Public Participation in the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Its mission requires systematic research on the economic, political, cultural, demographic, socioeconomic, geographic, and related factors affecting participation in the arts.

This project analyzed data from three nationally representative data sets (Survey for Public Participation in the Arts, Annual Arts Basic Surveys, and General Social Survey) to inform how policymakers, funders, arts organizations, and art practitioners can craft opportunities to engage a broader range of Americans in the arts. Reports detailed the role of personal tastes and preferences in arts participation, including demographic profiles of arts consumers and patterns of engagement via digital media. The results provided stakeholders with a deeper understanding of public engagement with the arts.