Following the staggered release of symposium sessions throughout 2010, WESTAF is pleased to release the final, complete proceedings of its symposium titled Engaging the Now: Arguments, Research, and New Environments for the Arts. The symposium convened in Aspen, Colorado in October, 2009. The proceedings feature a keynote presentation by Doug McLennan of ArtsJournal.com, a discussion about the efficacy of state film incentives, a dialogue about the state of arts education research and advocacy, a consideration of new economic arguments for the arts, a review of trends in youth engagement in creativity and the arts, a forum on rethinking the structure and scope of state arts agencies, and a discussion about cultural policy trends in Europe. In addition to McLennan, a wide range of speakers participated in the symposium discussion — from economists and economic development professionals to cultural policy leaders and academics.
Forks in the Road: The Many Paths of Arts Alumni
The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) at Indiana University’s Center for Postsecondary Research addresses the previously unanswered question of what happens to alumni of performing and visual arts in its report, Forks in the Road: The Many Paths of Arts Alumni. Stereotypes and misconceptions abounded about what these graduates were doing, with one of the most common being that they are unable to find work in their desired field and therefore are forced to take jobs outside of their desired field. After receiving 13,581 responses, SNAAP was able to dispel that myth and provide a clearer picture of the activities of these graduates.
The Role of the Arts in Educating America for Great Leadership and Economic Strength
The 2010 National Arts Policy Roundtable, The Role of the Arts in Educating America for Great Leadership and Economic Strength, focused on the role of the arts in answering the national imperative to improve education in order to meet the global challenges we face. This report is a summary of the findings of this convening at the Sundance Institute in September 2010.
Artist Employment Projections Through 2018
For the first time, the National Endowment for the Arts looks at future job prospects for a variety of artist occupations in Artist Employment Projections Through 2018. This report examines the projected growth rate for artist occupations through 2018, over which time artist occupations will increase by 11 percent, compared with an overall increase in the labor force of 10 percent.
Arts and the GDP: Value Added by Selected Cultural Industries
Cultural industries are economic powerhouses and states have the data to prove it, according to a new analysis from the National Endowment for the Arts. Drawing on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arts and the GDP: Value Added by Selected Cultural Industries is a new NEA research note that examines the value added by three selected cultural industries: (1) performing arts, sports, and museums; (2) motion pictures and sound recording; and (3) publishing (including software).
Combined, these three cultural industries contributed a total of $278.4 billion to the U.S. economy in 2009. The NEA research note also looks at dollars and jobs added to individual state economies by these cultural industries.
See Press Release
See REPORT (PDF)
Still Kicking: Aging Performing Artists in NYC and LA Metro Areas
Aging performing artists, whose diverse work includes acting, directing, choreography, and music performance and spans over seven decades, share with RCAC how they are “Still Kicking.”
