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What is the future for the Arts?
Hello! Thank you for your question about the future of the Arts. The most useful sources I found to answer your question were TrendsWatch magazine from the Center for the Future of Museums and the Creativity Connects report form the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The short version is the Arts community embraces the use of technology for engaging with their audiences, and both the UK’s Creative Industries Federation and the NEA have been active and working to help prepare the Arts and artists for changes that are coming. Below you will find a deep dive into my research and findings.
METHODOLOGY
I conducting advanced Internet searches using a variety of key words and query types. I sifted through information from trusted news sources, industry reports, social media feeds and government databases and reports. I confined the results to within the last of 2 years unless otherwise noted.
RESULTS
After extensive searching, I found several sources and reference materials that contain large amounts of information relevant to this request. If you would like to submit additional Wonder requests, we would be happy to drill down into any of the specific topics for you.
In 2013, the Pew Research Center, as a part of their Pew Internet Project, published the results of a survey of 1,244 people from Arts organizations that had received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in the previous 5 years. Normally, I would not use information that is 4 years old, but after extensive searching, this appears to be the most complete and comprehensive work of its kind. It contains an enormous amount of information and statistics as well as graphs, charts and tables of data. Below is just a sampling of the highlights that relate to your request in terms of audience engagement and sustainability.
--97% of the organizations surveyed had a presence on social media and 52% used it to crowdsource an idea.
--86% accept online donations. Only 5% said they offer the opportunity to donate via text messaging or SMS.
--81% were currently streaming live or posting videos of their events.
--The majority of organization described their biggest challenge as “cost and staffing issues”, “capacity/funding” or “time and staff resources”. Respondents went on to say that to keep costs low, personnel were learning to do what they could on their own in terms of digital media and incorporating it into their workflow.
--When asking for funding to expand the use of technology and the Internet, almost half of the organizations said funding was low and the request process so slow that often the technology had changed before they had received a decision.
--40% of survey respondents said digital technology is “negatively impacting audience members’ attention spans for live performances”.
In October 2016, the Creative Industries Federation (CIF) in London, England published “Brexit Report. The impact of leaving the EU on the UK’s arts, creative industries and cultural education – and what should be done.” The report is the culmination of the contributions of close to 500 artists, practitioners and leaders from creative disciplines all over the UK, and provides recommendations and strategies for the Arts in the wake of the referendum. A survey of CIF showed an overwhelming 96% desire to remain in the EU. Although the results of the referendum were not what had been hoped for, the survey also identified four main areas of concern held by CIF members, providing the beginnings of a framework for action. The areas of concern are talent and skills, EU funding, trade and investment and regulatory frameworks.
The Brexit Report outlines short term, medium term and long term actions to address the four areas of concern. Below is a summary of just the short-term actions. The details on the medium and long term efforts can be found in the full report.
Short Term, Urgent, For Immediate Impact –
--Create and establish a government-industry partnership to work on dealing with trade barriers and to open up primary market access that is outside of the EU.
--The country should be proactive and engage itself with the Digital Single Market.
--The UK government should confirm that EU nationals who are employed in the UK can stay.
--Ask the government to confirm its commitments to creative industry tax reliefs and to “maintain the strength of the core intellectual property regime currently in force”.
--The government must ensure apprenticeships and technical education works to increase opportunities in creative industries.
--The UK government should keep strengthening the relationship between higher education and those who employ people in creative industries.
A report prepared for the National Endowment for the Arts by The Center for Cultural Innovation identifies four major trends influencing the artist today. They are:
1. “Technology is profoundly altering the context and economics of artists’ work.”
2. “Artists share challenging economic conditions with other segments of the workforce.”
3. “Structural inequities in the artists’ ecosystem mirror those in society more broadly.”
4. “Training and funding systems are not keeping pace with artists’ evolving needs and opportunities.”
The first point about the effect of technology on the work of artists is a key point in their ability to engage audiences and how much of an impact is has. This research work and surveying helped to identify five main priorities to be addressed to improve the conditions for artists and get them moving in a positive direction. They are:
1. “Articulate and measure the benefits of artists and creative work to societal health and well-being.”
2. “Address artists’ income insecurity as part of larger workforce efforts.”
3. “Address artists’ debt and help build their assets.”
4. “Create 21st-century training systems.”
5. “Upgrade systems and structures that support artists.”
The last point is particularly important when considering the resources available to artists and the arts and their ability to use them in the most productive manner to engage audiences. The report specifically recommends efforts that help artists have more of a level playing field when it comes to learning new skills in technology such as making sure they have access to high-speed Internet connections, protections via digital copyrights and the creation and utilization of content-sharing platforms designed for artists.
Every year, The Center for the Future of Museums in Arlington, Virginia publishes TrendsWatch magazine which highlights current trends that are the important for museums to understand, and which they can consider implementing for the benefit of themselves and their communities. Every issue also gives examples of how recommendations given in prior issues are being used by museums. The 2016 issue discusses 5 trends and gives examples of how museums around the country are already using the ideas. The stories cover the categories of engaging with the community regarding labor and jobs, engaging with kids with autism, the use of virtual reality in the museum, helping people with their identity and sense of self and expressing optimism and happiness about the world.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
Here are two more resources I came across while researching that may be helpful to you.
Artsfundraising.org.uk – The Arts Council England funds the Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy Programme and the website which is all about fundraising for the Arts. There is a large section devoted to “Ideas & Knowledge”.
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, the Arts community embraces the use of technology for engaging with their audiences, and both the UK’s Creative Industries Federation and the NEA have been active and working to help prepare the Arts and artists for changes that are coming.
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