Americans for the Arts prepares for its National Arts Leaders’ Legislative Fly-In with a
Collective Call to Congress: Every Student Deserves a Quality Arts Education
[Washington, D.C., December 5, 2024] —The results are in, and the message is clear: Americans view the arts as essential to their personal lives, their communities, and the nation’s future. Yet, despite its undeniable value, only half (51%) of Americans believe everyone in their community has equal access to the arts. This finding comes from Americans Speak Out About the Arts in 2023, a national public opinion survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Americans for the Arts (AFTA). The study, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, examines Americans’ perceptions and attitudes towards arts and culture.
Key Findings:
- High Engagement in the Arts: Nearly 80% of Americans attended, visited, or watched an arts or culture event in person over the past year, underscoring the central role of the arts in everyday life.
- Personal Importance: Three-quarters of Americans (76%) consider arts and culture personally important to them, with many reporting how the arts contribute to their joy, well-being, and sense of creativity.
- Unifying Communities: The benefits of arts and culture extend beyond individuals, helping to build stronger communities. A vast majority of Americans (72%) believe arts and culture provide shared experiences with people of different races, ethnicities, ages, beliefs, and identities.
- Support for Arts Education: An overwhelming 92% of Americans believe every student should have access to a quality arts education. While 9-in-10 Americans agree arts education is important, only 52% think students have sufficient opportunities to take art classes.
- Government Funding is Key: Americans strongly support government funding for the arts, with majorities approving local (70%), state (66%), and federal (66%) investments in nonprofit arts organizations and community-based arts programs.
“The findings from this national public opinion study affirm the belief that we are better people with the arts in our lives,” said Randy Cohen, Americans for the Arts Vice President of Research. “76% of American adults agree, ‘Arts and culture are personally important to me.’ Engagement in the arts makes the American public feel healthier, more creative, and more empathetic—feeling better about today and more optimistic about tomorrow. These personal benefits also extend beyond the individual, with the public agreeing that the investments in the arts strengthen civic pride and improve the social, economic, and educational well-being of their community.”
The Arts Are the Foundation of Our Future
Americans Speak Out About the Arts also highlights the broader impact of the arts, including their role in promoting economic development and driving success both in the classroom and the workplace. According to the survey, 70% of American adults agree that “the arts help students perform better academically,” and 61% of employed workers assert that being more creative and innovative makes them more successful in their jobs.
“Americans believe that all students should be receiving a quality arts education. Creativity isn’t just a classroom skill; it’s a workplace advantage,” added Randy Cohen. “These insights highlight how arts education not only enriches academic experiences but also equips individuals with the creative problem-solving and innovative thinking needed to excel in their careers.”
The Arts Have Bipartisan Support
Public opinion survey findings reveal that support for the arts transcends political divisions with 4 in 5 Democrats and 3 in 5 Republicans and Independents favoring government funding for nonprofit arts and culture organizations. Americans also support funding for individual artists through community-based programs, exhibitions, and residencies.
Armed with this data, 15 national arts and culture leaders from 13 states will gather in Washington, D.C., this December for AFTA’s third Legislative Fly-In event of the year. The federal arts advocacy program, hosted in partnership with the Arts Action Fund, champions arts funding legislation by opposing measures to cut federal funding for the arts, advocating for increased federal appropriations for arts agencies, and training local advocates to strengthen arts programming in their states.
“As a national advocacy organization, we strive to bring connectivity and inclusion to every table we sit at. While initiatives like our legislative fly-ins have yielded impactful results, our work is far from finished,” said Tooshar Swain, Americans for the Arts Director of Public Policy. “The findings from this report highlight a critical challenge: ensuring equitable access to the arts for all Americans, regardless of where they live. With evidence-based data like this, we can build effective advocacy tools for local arts agencies and champion federal policies that bridge this gap and create stronger, more vibrant communities.”
For free access to the report, infographics, and survey data, click here. For more information, follow @Americans4Arts.
Established in 1960, Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization advocating for the arts at the federal level. AFTA is committed to representing and serving local communities while fostering equitable access to the arts.
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Survey Methodology: Americans Speak Out About the Arts in 2023 is one of the largest studies of its kind ever conducted with a sample of 3,062 American adults, ensuring diverse representation and statistical reliability in the findings. The study was designed to gauge the public’s (1) level of personal engagement in the arts as both audience and creator, (2) support for arts education and government funding of arts and culture, and (3) opinions on the personal and well-being benefits that come from engaging in the arts.
It is the third in a series of national public opinion surveys about arts and culture, with previous iterations conducted in 2015 and 2018. Like its predecessors, this one was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs—one of the largest opinion research firms in the world—on behalf of Americans for the Arts. The survey for this report was conducted during the week of July 5-11, 2023. The accuracy of this online poll has a credibility interval of +/- 2.2%.
Media Contact:
Mariaesmeralda Paguaga
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