TN Economic Impact Study Updates

By Grace Robinson, Public Information and Research Coordinator —

The organizational survey process of Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 (AEP5) is in full swing. Thank you to all of our Tennessee nonprofit arts and culture organization who have participated so far.

In case you are unfamiliar with the study, AEP5 is a nationally led economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture. Administered by Americans for the Arts (AFTA) in partnership with DataArts, the study is conducted every 5 years —now spanning across 25 years of research. AFTA has also partnered with state and local organizations across the nation to deliver community specific data through two surveys, one directed to audience members and the other to organizations.

While audience surveys have been administered at arts and culture events across the state since the first of the year, and will continue throughout 2016, the organizational surveys were just sent from AFTA to Tennessee organizations on July 11. The organizational survey was sent via email to over 33,000 eligible organizations located within the 329 study regions across the U.S. If you received this email survey, please complete it by the August 5 deadline. Each organizations is vital to study findings.

In the week since the organizational survey has been released, the following interactions have taken place

• 36% of all eligible organizations opened the email (this exceeds typical industry standards)
• 2,639 organizations have clicked the link and created a survey account
• 1,887 organizations have completing the survey/profile

If you have not received an email survey from AFTA, please contact your local study partner if you know them OR me at grace.robinson@tn.gov as soon as possible and I’ll connect you. AFTA and DataArts have found that many organizations did not receive the initial email due to security walls and technical errors. We would like to ensure that the greatest possible number of Tennessee eligible organizations take part in the study so that the breadth and depth of the arts in our state are comprehensively represented to the highest extent possible.

We look forward to receiving the data and implementing it across the state. You will be able to use the study for peer comparisons to similar cities and counties; in developing marketing and promotion strategies; and as an important advocacy tool in  conversations with stakeholders and local officials.

For questions, please contact Carol White at carol.white@tn.gov or 615.253.8914; or Grace Robinson at grace.robinson@tn.gov or 615.253.5133.