In January 2010, Americans for the Arts (AFTA) launched the National Arts Index, an annual measure of the health and vitality of the arts in the United States. The index provides an evidence-based look at key issues such as the growing number of artists and arts organizations, changing audience demand, impact of technology, personal participation and the relationship of the arts to the economy. It also documented some surprises, such as the growing demand for arts education and rapid growth in culturally and ethnically diverse arts organizations. While there is local relevance in these findings, survey organizers knew that to pull maximum value out of the data, AFTA needed to develop a local index, which tells the story of individual communities and places it in a larger national index.

The Office of Creative Sector Development invested over 100 hours gathering data for this survey throughout Larimer County. The release of the survey results is expected in early 2012. The OCSD participated since arts leaders, elected officials and citizen advocates need action-oriented research to advocate for better arts policy on the national, regional and local level. The AFTA studies make a strong case for the arts—in terms of economic, social and educational benefits.

Americans for the Arts Local Arts Index to be uploaded in early 2012.

Link to Americans for the Arts National study- National arts and economic prosperity study