Summary:
Since they first emerged some 40 years ago, state arts agencies have played a key role in public support of the arts. Initially, they worked mainly as arts funders. But in recent years, responding to government fiscal crises, shifting demographics and other trends, a number of state arts agencies have begun to reshape their roles. This study by the RAND Corporation identifies three strategies the agencies are using to adapt to a changing landscape: placing greater emphasis on encouraging public participation in the arts, engaging more with elected officials, and expanding their services beyond grant-making. As the concluding monograph in a four-volume, multiyear study, the report offers RAND’s “big picture” observations about state arts agencies, their evolution and their future possibilities. The report series was commissioned by The Wallace Foundation as part of its State Arts Partnerships for Cultural Participation (START) initiative.
Published: November 2008, 42 pages
Author(s): Julia F. Lowell
Publishing Organization: RAND Corporation
Companion Document(s): Research Brief
Document Type: Report
Document Format: PDF