SMU DataArts Releases Second Annual Ranking of Most Arts-Vibrant States in the U.S.
- Posted Dec 05, 2024
States Ranked by Per Capita Supply, Demand and Government Support for the Arts
Dallas (SMU), December 5, 2024 – SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, today released the second annual Arts Vibrancy State Rankings. The rankings are based upon SMU DataArts’ Arts Vibrancy Index, which identifies the most arts-vibrant areas in the United States through an analysis of the level of supply, demand, and government support for the arts across the country.
The top five most arts vibrant states have remained consistent from last year’s rankings. There was some movement within the top states; Illinois moved up two spots into the sixth position, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania appear in the top 10 for the first time in the seventh and ninth positions.
| Ranking | State | Arts Dollars Ranking | Arts Providers Ranking | Public Support Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | New Jersey | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 3 | 9 | 5 |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5 | 13 | 1 |
| 5 | Maryland | 14 | 16 | 3 |
| 6 | Illinois | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 16 | 24 | 6 |
| 8 | Oregon | 4 | 6 | 15 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 7 | 25 | 14 |
| 10 | California | 15 | 2 | 41 |
The top 10 list accompanied by a map visualizing arts vibrancy levels in all 50 states, as well as a data explorer featuring the overall rankings for all 50 states and rankings on each of the 13 unique measures of arts vibrancy included in the Arts Vibrancy Index.
The overall Arts Vibrancy Index is composed of 13 unique measures which cover aspects of supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture, and are adjusted for cost of living and population differences among communities. All metrics have been adjusted to per capita measures and financial metrics have been adjusted for cost of living in order to level the playing field across state contexts. The cost of doing business varies based on local conditions, so the same dollar goes further in some communities than others.
ABOUT SMU DATAARTS
SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, is a project of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. The mission of SMU DataArts is to provide and engage both organizations and individuals with the evidence-based insights needed to collectively build strong, vibrant, and equitable arts communities. Its research efforts range from academic papers published in leading journals, applied research undertaken with community partners, and actionable insights shared directly with arts practitioners. Its programs provide business intelligence tools and resources to help arts leaders leverage data to answer critical management questions and connect research analyses to their own work. Recent publications include research reports on the scope of COVID-19 federal relief funding for the arts, emergence from the COVID-19 crisis; the alchemy that drives high performing arts organizations of color; audience diversity, equity and inclusion in large performing arts organizations; impact of investments made in diverse creative communities; and more.
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Media Contact:
Emma England
SMU Meadows School of the Arts
214-768-3785