The significance of arts and culture to American life makes the vitality of the arts a matter of pressing interest. After all, the nation's nonprofit arts and culture organizations generates billions in economic activity every year. Further, the arts contribute not only to aesthetics and creativity, but also to prosperity, innovation, and social capital. Because it is important to understand the breadth, depth, and character of this industry, Americans for the Arts created the National Arts Index. And today, Americans for the Arts issued the Index’s latest findings.

The 2013 Index reveals that the arts industry effectively leveled off in 2011 maintaining the gains it sustained in 2010 as it recovered from the effects of the Great Recession. The Index also shows that Americans by and large increased their engagement and participation in the arts in 2011; however, dwindling public funds for the arts threaten the industry’s full economic recovery. In fact, decreases in public funds contributed to an increase in the percentage of nonprofit arts organizations closing the year with an operating deficit in 2011.

For more details and analysis, you can read a copy of the press release.