Deadlines Extended for Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Surveys

From Shannon Ford, Director of Community Arts Development –

Since May 1, 2022, 22 local partners across the state have been working with the Tennessee Arts Commission and Americans for the Arts to carry out the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study. The purpose of the study is to measure the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences in local communities, regions, and states nationwide.

Americans for the Arts sent a web-based survey to over 1600 Tennessee nonprofits and local entities of government at the beginning of March, 2023. These surveys collect information about each organization’s revenues, expenditures, in-person attendance, virtual attendance, staff size, and volunteers. The deadline for submitting the organizational survey has been extended to April 28, 2023, and reminder emails with each organization’s unique survey web address are being sent by the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Please note that all Tennessee Arts Commission grant recipients are contractually obligated to fill out this survey. Organizations that offer arts and cultural programming but are not Tennessee Arts Commission grant recipients are also encouraged to complete the survey. Each organization’s survey data will help communities across the state to measure the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture sector.

In addition to the organizational surveys, each local partner has collected anonymous paper and electronic surveys capturing information about audiences’ arts event-related spending, demographics, and social impact at arts events. These diligent efforts have resulted in nearly 9000 surveys (and counting!) being collected statewide. Local partners will continue to collect audience surveys through May 31, 2023 in their quest to document the size and scope of nonprofit arts and culture in local communities.

Audience and organization survey results will be compiled, analyzed, and released to local partners in Autumn 2023. Each community will receive a customized report based on their own surveys of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences. An economic model will be tailored for each community to provide specific data about the industry’s impact on local jobs and government revenue.

Contact Shannon Ford at 615-532-9796 or Melissa Moody at 615-253-5133 for more information.

Tennessee Local Partners – Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study