By Any Measure

In the first few months of the pandemic, I often heard speculation about the extent to which shutdowns, event cancellations, social distancing, and a reluctance to travel would affect the finances of different arts organizations. Some contended that only the largest organizations, with their steady endowments and loyal patron lists, would power through. Others pointed to the … [Read more...] about Sweating the Big Stuff for Small Nonprofits – Plus New Jobs Numbers

In this episode, we look at how statistical models for tracking infectious diseases can help researchers monitor the spread of popular music genres. The source article is here. A transcript of this podcast is available at the NEA website. … [Read more...] about Quick Study: Tracking the Viral Spread of Musical Genres

In an era when questions of economic impact threaten to monopolize public discourse about the value of arts and culture, it is refreshing to see a new report from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in which the authors state, without apology: “The vast majority of libraries and museums are not large employers and will never provide the muscle to significantly … [Read more...] about Museums, Libraries, and Community Impact – It’s Not (Just) the Economy

To celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month, this episode of Quick Study looks at the critical role of local arts agencies in a post-COVID-19 environment. A transcript of this podcast is available at the NEA website. … [Read more...] about Quick Study: Local Arts Agencies as Creative Connectors

Back in January, the NEA published The Art of Reopening: A Guide to Current Practices Among Arts Organizations During COVID-19. Then as now, arts organizations have enlisted community partners and patrons in the bid for survival—especially given the body-blow to travel and tourism. “Aligning arts programming with local community needs is paramount,” the guide states, before … [Read more...] about Agents for Recovery—Going Local with Federal Arts Spending