Center for Data Arts Center for Data Arts Salary

SOURCE: ASU Alumni Clan Magazine, May 2015 (link here; pages 40- 43)

The raw numbers for arts organizations over the past 2 decades don't paint a pretty picture. Audiences involved with the fine arts take been steadily failing since the early on 1990s, a tendency that'southward been exacerbated past the recent "Nifty Recession." According to a 2015 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) study, in 1992, at least 41 percent of U.S. adults attended at least one benchmark art action annually. A decade later, that figure had shrunk to 33 percent.

While art lovers may mourn the artful losses represented by this declining per centum of audience participants, falling arts attendance also has major implications in terms of a region'due south economic health. Co-ordinate to NEA, the arts contribute $698 billion annually to the U.Southward. economic system and the arts/cultural sectors employ 4.seven 1000000 workers.

Locally, the Arizona Arts Committee states that nonprofit arts organizations in Arizona contribute more than $500 one thousand thousand in annual economic bear on. And arts and cultural spending produces an economical ripple effect; for every 10 jobs created straight by the arts, an additional 62 jobs are generated in such areas as hospitality, travel, retail, car rental, etc.

All of these numbers point to the fact that the health of the arts and cultural sectors are of primary importance to this state as well equally the nation in many ways. Because of this, arts organizations have greeted the appearance of information-driven research with growing enthusiasm.

Moving from reactive to proactive

ASU's Morrison Institute for Public Policy has participated in the creation of a powerful online management tool designed to strengthen arts and cultural organizations. Launched in 2011, the Arizona Cultural Data Project (CDP) was inspired past a program that originated in Pennsylvania in 2004. Using the CDP, financial, programmatic and operational reporting are streamlined, and organizations tin can chop-chop and easily track trends in their ain performance, as well as benchmark themselves confronting groups of a similar nature and locale.

The Arizona CDP augments the dedication and leadership provided by the university'south Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, which is helping organizations, including those serving the arts, modernize their operations, as well as providing next-generation preparation to nonprofit leaders and board members.

"Not only is accountability to sponsors and key stakeholders a reason to employ such measures, but any board and leadership committed to meeting its missions should see a programme for data collection, analysis and dissemination as a key ingredient for success," said Robert Ashcraft, the ASU Lodestar Middle'southward founding executive managing director, who is likewise a professor of nonprofit studies with the university.

His opinion was enthusiastically echoed past Andrea Whitsett, a Morrison Institute analyst who is the liaison between the establish and the Arizona Cultural Data Project's Task Forcefulness. Ane of her roles on the task force is to accost potential research uses for data generated by the project.

"Existent time information and comparative information can be game changers, enabling organizations to be proactive instead of reactionary," she said.

SRP, the Arizona Committee on the Arts, the Tucson Pima Arts Council and the urban center of Phoenix's Part of Arts and Culture are amid the grant makers participating in the Arizona CDP.

"Applicants to our organization must participate in this program," said Dwight Walth '85 Yard.1000., '94 D.Chiliad.A., an ASU alum who is the director of grants services and community initiatives for the city of Phoenix. "It's important that organizations know who their existing audience is, also every bit who is non attending, and identify barriers such equally location and false perceptions, and develop strategies to target audiences beyond their cadre."

Blending data and gut feelings

Does this newfound interest in quantitative data essentially eclipse the apply of qualitative data considerations?

While acknowledging the importance of employing quantitative methods, Ashcraft points out that relying on quantitative data solitary could leave some gaping holes in truly agreement aesthetic qualities of arts and civilization and how they relate to customs life.

"I'm not sure knowing how many patrons attend an orchestra performance adequately tells the whole story, without looking at the aesthetic quality of the performance and the extent to which information technology affected the audience," he says. Ashcraft noted besides that qualitative measurements of successvcan exist featured in outreach stories that position arts and cultural nonprofits as instrumental in improving quality of life in various communities.

"I argue for mixed-methods approaches to data collection and analysis that draw on rigorous quantitative and qualitative methodologies to reveal true insight," Ashcraft said.

Walth asserted that using a data- driven approach was simply a fact of life once an arts organization has reached a certain size.

"None of the established major arts and culture providers that I work with apply a 'seat of the pants' approach, every bit they simply wouldn't survive," he said. This is due, in large office, to the sources of contributed funding being quite small for a urban center the size of Phoenix.

Yet, Walth continued, qualitative and quantitative approaches didn't necessarily have to be in conflict.

"A blend (of approaches) is necessary and the use of either depends on whom you are trying to influence, and what their priorities and interests are," he said."In the metropolis of Phoenix, for example, some of our authorizers value the economics of arts and civilization, while others reply to the powerful stories of the impact that arts experiences have on individuals and communities."

Edifice capacity and income

Whitsett said i reason that arts nonprofits increasingly are driven to go data-axial is the fact that in recent years, funders significantly take increased expectations related to effect measurement. What, precisely, does that mean in terms of bottom lines being enhanced?

"Every bit for tracking increases in donations, in that location is no one answer," stresses Ashcraft. While information gathering plays an of import role in institutional grants, he points out that it does not necessarily motivate other types of donors.

"An individual donor who loves the mission and activities of an arts organisation may care less well-nigh such information. They are to moved to requite based on aesthetic reasons," he said.

Ane area in which data gathering can strengthen arts/civilisation organizations – both in terms of donations and increased omnipresence – is when it is used for chapters-building initiatives Walth said.

"When the depth of the recession was axiomatic, several organizations did some very sophisticated data analysis," he explained."This resulted in very intense discussions with board members and staff to identify new contributed and earned income opportunities as well as justify existing programs and services."

So, in the end, applying the analysis of the numbers to arts organizations can sometimes lead to improving the numbers of the lesser line. And that, over time, may prove to exist a expert style to turn those disheartening NEA statistics around.

Author: Oriana Parker is a Phoenix-based freelance arts writer

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Source: https://lodestar.asu.edu/content/data-driven-research-strengthening-arts-and-culture-organizations