ASSESSMENT and RESEARCH

Performing Arts Readiness Evaluation and Sustainability Planning Project

Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) was created with the support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 2017, as a project of LYRASIS, to improve emergency preparedness within the performing arts sector through trainings, educational resources, grants, and building networks. Research was desired to better understand field needs, the performance of PAR to date, and the sustainability of PAR, including how PAR’s work and goals align, intersect, and strengthen disaster preparedness work in the wider arts and cultural sector.

AdvisArts undertook research in late 2020 and early 2021, a period of increased awareness and action on the need for disaster readiness, response, and recovery, informed by issues of equity and inclusion. The research process provided a complementary and iterative exploration of PAR’s work in the context of planning for the future. Nearly 400 individuals participated in the research: context interviews; data mining; an online survey; four focus groups; and a series of depth interviews. All components were informed by voices representing organizations of various sizes, serving a range of communities and audiences, and located in diverse geographic regions. The findings revealed key questions and options for the work of PAR and the field in addressing disaster resilience.

Performing Arts Readiness

Artist Trust Annual Artist Survey

Artist Trust has invested over $10 million in Washington State artists through funding, trainings, and resources since 1986. A commitment to being responsive to the changing needs and concerns of artists fueled the launch of an annual online survey in 2016 to collect data from artists across the State. The 2016 Annual Artist Survey was intended as the first iteration of a yearly research process to inform Artist Trust’s programs and direction, and to share with organizations and partners across the state for their own uses. Artist Trust sought baseline data against which to examine changes and directions over subsequent years.

AdvisArts developed a survey instrument with a set of core questions to provide this foundation year over year, and with a small number of additional ‘timely issues’ questions to provide input on specific programmatic directions and initiatives, to be changed annually. Data was collected and analyzed from more than 1500 artists in 2016. AdvisArts developed a 2016 Artist Survey Summary Report (2017) providing a picture of Washington State artists and their needs. Templates for replication of the survey, its distribution, and analysis were also provided for 2017 and beyond.

Artist Trust Annual Artist Survey

Rasmuson Foundation

Rasmuson Foundation has built a significant program of direct support to individual artists in Alaska, launching its major initiative in arts and culture in 2003. The Individual Artist Awards program supports Alaska artists working in all disciplines through three programs: Project Awards, Fellowship Awards, and its Distinguished Artist Award.

AdvisArts provided assessment of program design, structure, process, and goals working closely with artists from across the state to document their experiences and perspectives through interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. The resulting Assessment Report for Rasmuson Foundation’s Individual Artist Awards Program: The first twelve years (2016) provided leadership with recommendations to shape the future of the program, and to examine interrelationships with other Rasmuson programs. The voices of artists provided insights to strengthen existing dimensions of support, opened doors to effective and relevant ways of supporting individual artists in Alaska in the coming years, and highlighted the impact these artists have on Alaskan communities.

Rasmuson Foundation Art and Culture Initiative

National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network (NPN/VAN)

The National Performance Network (NPN), noted for its significant support of performing artists over its thirty year history, wished to assess and deepen its understanding of the impact of that support on individual artists. AdvisArts undertook a substantive qualitative research process resulting in a report Catalyst, Pivot, Touchstone, Orbit: The Impact of the National Performance Network on Performing Artists Over Time. In-depth interviews were conducted with artists from around the nation, and supplemented by artist focus groups. Additional focus groups brought the perspectives of NPN Partners representing presenting entities across the country. The research findings and consultant recommendations are the basis of future planning for NPN Board and staff leadership. This study was followed a year later by examination of a newer aspect of the organization, the Visual Artists Network (VAN). A Visual Artists Network Assessment Report was based on focus groups and in-depth interviews with artists supported through VAN/VAN Partner representatives, and NPN/VAN leadership. This research provides the organization with insights on the first decade of VAN and explores potential avenues for the future.

National Performance Network

Grantmakers in the the Arts Research Initiative on Support for Individual Artists

Artists are the essential foundation of the arts sector yet the support that institutional funders provide is poorly understood. AdvisArts worked with WolfBrown on a multi-year initiative with Grantmakers in the Arts to track and benchmark institutional funding support for individual artists. In 2012 the research team undertook a preliminary analysis of the national landscape of artist support and produced A Review of Scholarly Research on Artist Support and developed initial frameworks regarding the ecology and transactional pathways of artist support. This served as the foundation for development of A Proposed National Standard Taxonomy for Reporting Data on Support for Individual Artists. Concurrently, Claudia Bach researched and authored an article, The Funder and the Intermediary, in Support of the Artist: A Look at Rationales, Roles and Relationships in the Winter 2014 issue of GIA Reader, and a related webinar. These components are building blocks for GIA’s ongoing efforts regarding philanthropic support for individual artists.

Grantmakers in the Arts Support for Individual Artists Research Initiative

Arts Participation Leadership Initiative INNOVATIONS Grants

The ArtsWA INNOVATIONS Grants challenged arts organizations to find innovative approaches to arts audience participation with a focus on engaging teens and young adults, connecting with specific ethnic communities, integrating and advancing digital communication and marketing techniques, and/or creating new opportunities for social engagement. AdvisArts, with Alan Brown of WolfBrown, worked with each of the thirteen INNOVATIONS grantee project teams to document the intensive six-month grant period, and to strategically reflect on and share the lessons learned. The Stirring Up Arts Participation: Thirteen Projects report brings together findings and innovation practices along with full project profiles and each organization’s “recipe” for creating change. This information was also presented at public forums and is a fundamental aspect of the Arts Participation Leadership Initiative web resource that documents the four-year initiative of the Washington State Arts Commission, with support from The Wallace Foundation.

ArtsWA

ArtsEd Washington

The Principal’s Arts Leadership (PAL) program was created by ArtsEd Washington to inform and support elementary school teams, led by principals, in the development and implementation of arts plans to increase arts education. Each school’s plan was intended to build on and reflect the unique pathway appropriate to that school’s characteristics and community, using existing and new resources. AdvisArts conducted an extensive assessment and evaluation of the first five years of PAL to identify the program’s impact on participating individuals, schools and districts, and to inform continuation and replication of the program. Interviews were conducted on-site with school principals and arts team members at 16 schools, with further research investigating best practices. The resulting report, Anchoring Arts Education: Principals’ Arts Leadership, an Evaluation of ArtsEd Washington’s Elementary School Program, was completed in May 2009, with findings presented at the 2009 Americans for the Arts conference and other national forums. The assessment process was supported by the John F. Kennedy Center, 4Culture and the Robert B McMillen Foundation.

ArtsEd Washington, Principal’s Arts Leadership Research

Seattle Office of Film + Music, City of Seattle

AdvisArts worked with the City of Seattle’s Office of Film + Music, Office of Economic Development, to develop City of Music: a vision for the future of music in Seattle, and subsequently to assess the City of Seattle’s role in advancing this vision. The vision process, completed in September 2007, included convening of a 24 member advisory committee of leaders from all aspects of the music sector. The resulting document identified components relevant to musicians, music education, live music venues, music businesses and others engaged in making the vision a reality by 2020. To further explore existing and potential roles that the City of Seattle might play, AdvisArts interviewed leadership from twenty-seven City of Seattle departments to identify resources and ideas relevant to the City of Music vision. This research resulted in a report, City of Music/City of Seattle: A look at the City’s Relationship to the City of Music 2020 Vision. The report concluded with recommendations which were presented to the Mayor and other City of Seattle leaders, leading to the creation of the Seattle Music Commission and other ongoing efforts.

City of Music

Seattle Public Schools

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) identified arts education as important to fulfillment of its Strategic Plan. This revitalized commitment required a clear picture of current activity and an investigation of equity in access across the District. In 2008 AdvisArts conducted a survey of district arts activity for SPS with support through the partnership of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the SPS Department of Visual and Performing Arts. The survey provided the first District-wide look at arts teaching and activities in elementary, middle, high and alternative schools since the 1970s, with 90% of all schools participating. The research also provided insights to assist SPS in meeting reporting standards for state-developed Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRS) in dance, music, theater and visual arts. The final report, Seattle Public Schools Survey of District Arts Activity, January 2009, provides a high-level picture of arts instruction and access at the District level with key findings in five areas: arts instruction and activities; resources for arts teaching and activities; barriers to the arts; policy and assessment; and attitudes regarding arts activity.

Seattle Public Schools Department of Visual and Performing Arts