Each year, SMU DataArts releases their Top 40 Most Arts Vibrant Communities. I always find this study interesting because it is clear that community wealth is a HUGE indicator of arts vibrancy. SMU DataArts does an excellent job with their studies, but I do believe that some arts activity is missed through the data they collect (what is available). For example, I recently discovered vibrancy in Pikeville, Kentucky through a colleague running the Appalachian Center of the Arts. They are missed in the data because although the staff is running the 501 c(3), they are city employees and their employment doesn’t appear in the data collection. Does anyone have any other examples of what might be missed when scanning for vibrancy? Particularly in smaller communities?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this since we first looked at the study. One area that I feel like Eastern KY ustalizes artits a great deal is through its tourism. Both the county that I live in and the county that I work hire a number of artists ( musicians, storytellers, actors and sometimes even folk artists) to perform or demonstrate their craft to out of state tour groups. While not necessarily an arts organization, tourism also tends to have a hand in the local festivals that rely on musicians and crafters to make the events succesful. For us, alot of these musicians and crafters bring in income through these events but, when asked, would probably list their full time job in a complelty different field rather than stating that they are an artist work wise. I’d be interested to see how many different artists are hired by “non-arts” groups in the community and how that contributes to ensuring that the community and visitors have entertainment and arts activities in the town.
Shannon, this came up when I worked with them on their rural study. Touring artists are hard to track. They can see output of local non-profits in regards to donated dollars and staff that support touring artists (when paid by the non-profit). When the dollars leave the community through artist pay (the artists/agencies are located by their home addresses, I believe). We probably do lose tracking on some of the economic impact of these touring groups. I am going to compile some questions and see if I can engage in the next rural study again.