Art Buy the Numbers

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As a nationwide art-shopping movement, we wanted to take a look at the facts, figures and data points of the “total universe” of the business of art in the United States. We focused on four areas:

   1.  number of consumers who engage with the arts in some way
   2. number of commercial businesses involved in the art market
   3. number of local art agencies
   4. number of non-profits and community organizations involved in art, and
   5  number of professional artists creating art

We’ve included high level data compiled from various sources, in all cases linking to the original source research. If you’re interested in diving in deeper, those sources contain additional granular details.

All data is as recent as possible. Of course, with the advent of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 (and now 2021), many numbers have likely changed. To date we know of no comprehensive examination of 2020 or 2021 United States art market. However, where possible, we have included Covid-19 data, including several tables and charts at the bottom of this article.

If you are aware of other data sources which should be included, please contact us here.

Art Consumers

Commercial Art Businesses

Local Art Agencies

Local Art Agencies (LAAs) work tirelessly to ensure that the arts and culture have a vital presence in America’s communities from coast to coast. LAAs are diverse in their makeup—they have many different names (Arts Council, Arts Commission, etc) and embrace a spectrum of artistic disciplines.

  • 4,500 nonprofit organizations and municipal agencies
  • 87% Interact with the Business Community
  • 84% Program Events in their Community
  • 92% Provide Services to Other Arts Organizations
  • 91% Partner with Other Community Organizations

Source: Americans for the Arts 2019 Profile of Local Arts Agencies

Nonprofit Art Organizations

Economic Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Individual Artists

 
Economic Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
 
 

Selected Tables and Charts

Live Arts Events

U.S. Art Organizations with budgets larger than $50,000

There were 39,292 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations with an annual budget of more than $50,000 in the U.S. in 2015. See Table and Figure 1 below.
– Source: NCAR Paper on National Arts and Cultural Field (pdf)

Covid-19’s Devastating Impact on Artists in the United States

Source: Brookings Report Lost art: Measuring COVID-19’s devastating impact on America’s creative economy Aug 2020

Source: Brookings Report Lost art: Measuring COVID-19’s devastating impact on America’s creative economy Aug 2020
Source: Brookings Report Lost art: Measuring COVID-19’s devastating impact on America’s creative economy Aug 2020

Covid-19’s Devastating Impact on Arts and cultural organizations in the United States

Source: Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of the Coronavirus – Data as of 2/12/2021

Source: Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of the Coronavirus - Data as of 2/12/2021
Source: Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of the Coronavirus - Data as of 2/12/2021
Source: Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of the Coronavirus - Data as of 2/12/2021
Source: Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of the Coronavirus - Data as of 2/12/2021

Artists Sunday is the nationwide movement dedicated to supporting artists and recognizing the impact they have in enriching our lives, communities, and the economy.

The powerful new effort is designed to make the Sunday after Thanksgiving the most profitable day of the year for artists. Consumers are encouraged to shop with artists and purchase creative, handcrafted gifts for the holidays. Artists Sunday follows Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, prior to Cyber Monday.

Supporters include individual artists, economic development agencies and non-profit organizations across the country. To learn more about Artists Sunday artists, partners, sponsors, or involvement in promoting commerce with artists, please visit http://ArtistsSunday.com/

For Artists

Participate in Artists Sunday

For non-profits

Join the Artists Partner Program

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