(photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art)
According to a report released by the National Endowment for the Arts, attendance for arts and cultural events is at the lowest point in 27 years. Factors affecting the arts include the rising price of gas, a drop in overall consumer spending, and of course the deteriorating economy. Perhaps the scariest part is that the data was collected in 2008, which means any 2009 statistics from when the recession seriously dug in have yet to be analyzed. Prepare for things to get worse.
Notable findings:
- Fewer students are taking art classes and lessons, a drop by 6-23% depending upon the art form (the rates are even worse when directly compared to 1982: music education has dropped 30% and visual arts by 50%).
- Audiences for live music, events, and performances are both declining and growing older.
- People with higher education (the go to group for the arts) have consistently curtailed participation in the arts each year
However, not all the findings were bad. Internet and broadcast media have made it easier for people to engage with the arts, and more are doing so each year. Additionally, photography/videography/film-making has increased so much in popularity that it now ranks as the top creative activity.
So while no one may show up to your gallery opening, at least someone might look at your work online or document your destitution. There’s always that.
