Arts data index: continuing the discussion

[Mauldin, Bronwyn]

At our most recent Virtual Study Group, we explored WESTAF’s Cultural Vitality Index (CVI) and Americans for the Arts’ National and Local Art Indices. (Notes from the VSG are attached.) There were more questions from CRN members than we had time to cover.

 

Below are the questions we weren’t able to get to. Our presenters, Anna Muessig and Roland Kushner, have offered to answer some of those questions here on the listserv:

 

·         I tooled around a little with the Local Arts Index and the numbers for DC are much higher than for other counties. Are they accurate or skewed because of national organizations?

 

·         What is the hope for how this data will be used by local decision makers? Obviously we all hope that local decision makers will appreciate a healthy arts and culture sector for its own sake, but is there any data that helps to explain the level of economic activity brought into an area from the arts sector?

 

·         Does either index include data from tourism bureaus in addition to local arts organizations to give local decision makers an idea of how the arts are bringing people into their city, county, etc.?

 

·         A number of communities have been utilizing both sets of tools.  Could you discuss how these two tools may work together/complement each other, and provide a useful tool for communities?

 

CRN members, please feel free to join the conversation with your own insights, ideas and questions.

 

 

 

Bronwyn Mauldin

Research and Evaluation Manager

Los Angeles County Arts Commission

1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800

Los Angeles, CA 90017

213-202-6951

bmau...@arts.lacounty.gov

 

 

 

[Roland Kushner]

Hi, everyone -- I am responding following each question:

On Monday, June 23, 2014 1:24:27 PM UTC-4, Bronwyn wrote:

At our most recent Virtual Study Group, we explored WESTAF’s Cultural Vitality Index (CVI) and Americans for the Arts’ National and Local Art Indices. (Notes from the VSG are attached.) There were more questions from CRN members than we had time to cover.

Below are the questions we weren’t able to get to. Our presenters, Anna Muessig and Roland Kushner, have offered to answer some of those questions here on the listserv:

·         I tooled around a little with the Local Arts Index and the numbers for DC are much higher than for other counties. Are they accurate or skewed because of national organizations?

Well, those two options aren't mutually exclusive.  In terms of audience demand, DC is a high participation community.  In terms of financial activity of DC-based nonprofits, yes, there are some national headquarters there, also the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, etc. that serve locals and visitors.

 

·         What is the hope for how this data will be used by local decision makers? Obviously we all hope that local decision makers will appreciate a healthy arts and culture sector for its own sake, but is there any data that helps to explain the level of economic activity brought into an area from the arts sector?

I would say that numerous indicators in the Local Arts Index do exactly that, for example on consumption, payroll, workforce, and  nonprofit revenues and expenditures.  Other sources of data for economic activity (and the more elusive economic impact) are available through AFTA's "Creative Economy" and "Arts and Economic Prosperity Studies." 

 

·         Does either index include data from tourism bureaus in addition to local arts organizations to give local decision makers an idea of how the arts are bringing people into their city, county, etc.?

When the LAI was started, it included primary data gathered from local arts agencies in about 75 counties that were partners in the original program design.  We asked those partners to gather many kinds of data that were not available from the national secondary data sources.  One element of this primary data gathering was a set of questions we asked local arts agencies to direct to local tourism promotion agencies.  We asked them to rank each of these as reasons that tourists came to their communities: 

Convention, Higher education (taking kids to college), Heritage sites, Shopping, Outdoor recreation and scenery, Fairs and festivals, Performing arts events, Food, wine, beer, and distilleries, Spectator and participatory sports, Gaming, Visual arts and museum exhibits and other collections, Living collections (zoos, aquariums, arboretums

Secondly, the local arts agencies asked about tourism promotion practices. We asked them to rate the following four aspects of their own material:

1. do promotional materials, on-line or printed represent arts and culture as a distinctive amenity of the community?

2. do promotional materials, on-line or printed present arts and culture as part of the community’s image and brand?

3. do promotional materials, on-line or printed, mainly recognize well-known producers and institutions or describe broader community-wide arts activities?\

4. Does the local tourism bureau have an arts interest group and/or designated staff concentrating on arts and culture activity?

 

The answers to these were somewhat erratic due to our method in collecting them.  For that reason (and because of AFTA's agreements with the local arts agencies) the responses aren't public.  But the questions, as well as questions on the place of arts and culture in the rank of reasons why people visit a place, are still the right ones to ask.

·         A number of communities have been utilizing both sets of tools.  Could you discuss how these two tools may work together/complement each other, and provide a useful tool for communities?

I'm happy to know that places are using both.  If I'm interested in getting a better handle on the role of the arts in a local community, I want more info -- so their relationship is supplementary and complementary, not one as a substitute for another.  On the other hand, the LAI data are available free of charge 

 

CRN members, please feel free to join the conversation with your own insights, ideas and questions.

Thanks, everybody, for your interest in the LAI and for your participation in the webinar.