NASERC: Reporting Trends and Impact in American Arts and Cultural Data
A key activity for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is to conduct research on the value and impact of the arts in the United States. The role of the arts in society is crucial. Creativity fosters innovation, and innovation is the engine that drives important developments in business and science, as well as contributes to culture, community, and well-being.
The NEA's National Arts Statistics and Evidence-Based Reporting Center (NASERC)—created under the Office of Research & Analysis—provides data to arts administrators, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and the public.
The NEA partnered with AIR to establish and operate NASERC and to develop its Arts Indicators Project, a system of statistical indicators that monitor arts activity in the United States. These indicators give users free access to regularly updated, industry-specific national data, providing a clear view of market dynamics and emerging trends. In addition to supporting the Arts Indicators Project, AIR produces reports on relevant topics within the arts ecosystem.
Our Work
We provide expert research, analysis, and technical strategy to the NASERC Arts Indicators Project, through a full suite of capabilities:
- Research and evaluation: AIR conducted a rigorous literature review; led consultative interviews with funders, researchers, and practitioners; and convened a technical working group of national arts experts to guide the development of the indicator framework. This work produced a detailed technical report and continues to inform ongoing topical reports and practice guides.
- Data analysis and reporting: AIR developed an initial set of 12 indicators across four domains—artists and cultural workers; arts participation; arts and cultural assets; and arts education—offering insights into topics such as artist earnings, event attendance, and the arts’ economic impact. These indicators are regularly updated, with new ones added as relevant data emerge. In addition to indicator reporting, AIR produces topical reports, practice guides, and literature scans to explore issues facing the arts and cultural sector. Examples include Curtains Up: Critical Factors Influencing Theater Resiliency and 50 States of Arts Participation: 2022.
- Design and production: AIR created visual templates and data figures that clearly communicate complex findings. These include maps showing geographic distribution of artists and charts tracking changes in participation and earnings over time.
- Technical assistance: AIR established and managed NASERC’s technical working group, which provided expert input on the initial framework and reports. AIR also operates a public help desk to support users and ensure transparency and accessibility of NASERC products.
Addressing the Art World's Persistent Data Challenges
- Clarifying inconsistent definitions: Key terms like “artist,” “arts organization,” and “arts participation” vary widely across data sources. We resolved this by establishing clear, standardized definitions grounded in federal data sets to ensure consistency and comparability across indicators.
- Stabilizing shifting data sources: Many arts-related surveys change over time or are discontinued, complicating trend analysis. We developed a flexible indicator framework that accommodates evolving data inputs while maintaining methodological rigor.
- Consolidating fragmented data: Publicly available arts data are dispersed across numerous federal agencies. We created a comprehensive data asset map and integrated high-priority sources into a single, accessible framework.
This work exemplifies AIR’s ability to deliver robust indicator systems, produce accessible and actionable insights, and collaborate with technical experts to support data-driven decision making in the arts and beyond.
