Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch announced the completion of a new in-depth study of American perceptions and attitudes towards the arts and arts funding. Americans Speak out About the Arts in 2018 is an update of the study by the same name published in 2016.
Lynch revealed three highlights of the study during his State of the Arts speech and announced that the full study will be released to the public on July 24, 2018.
- 73 percent of Americans believe the arts help them understand other cultures better, up 11 percent compared to 2016—a finding that was agreed upon regardless of age, race, and ethnicity.
- Not only are the arts a source of personal pleasure to participate in, but 72 percent agree the arts unify our communities, regardless of age, race, and ethnicity.
- 9 in 10 Americans believe that having arts spaces in their communities improve the quality of life. Related, 86 percent believe that arts spaces are good for local businesses and the economy.
The full study, infographics, and summary reports will be available on the Americans for the Arts website following the July 24 release.