#1 Jackson, WY-ID (pop. 35,606)

Arts Providers		11th
	Independent artists	12th
	Arts and culture employees	35th
	Arts and culture organizations	10th
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	19th
Arts Dollars		5th
	Program revenue	6th
	Contributed revenue	6th
	Total expenses	6th
	Total compensation	9th
Government Support		7th
	State arts dollars	70th
	State arts grants	20th
	Federal arts dollars	16th
	Federal arts grants	7th

 

The Jackson, WY-ID, MSA is a mountain community of great beauty and innovation that includes both Teton County, ID, and Teton County, WY. All art forms are represented here, and at times have been recognized nationally or internationally for excellence. The area is home to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, which offers a Sculpture Trail in addition to its indoor, permanent collection. With a 78,000-sq.-ft. campus, Center for the Arts is a community-wide cultural and educational facility that serves to shelter and nurture the artistic core of Jackson. The Center provides a space for 21 independent cultural and educational Resident organizations to flourish. The theater, studios, and classrooms are abuzz with activity nearly every day of the year, thanks to programs offered by Residents, community organizations, and the Center’s own creative initiatives. Some of the Resident organizations include Off Square Theatre Company, the Jackson Hole Community Band, Jackson Community Theater, the Jazz Foundation of Jackson Hole, the Jackson Hole Chorale, and pARTners, an organization that integrates arts into school curriculum. The Grand Teton Music Festival is a summer classical music festival that brings prestigious soloists and musicians from renowned orchestras to Jackson Hole to share their passion with the local community. Strong mid-sized and smaller organizations include the Dancers’ Workshop, Jackson Hole Public Art, and the Art Association. The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is an internationally known organization that provides film awards for the wildlife film industry and is a powerhouse in arts education programming. Jackson ranks 12th on independent artists per capita and 11th on overall Arts Providers. Local individuals, foundations and government are very supportive with funding. This community is in the top 1% in Government Support and Arts Dollars, ranking in the top 1% on all sub-measures of Arts Dollars.

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#2 Steamboat Springs, CO (pop. 25,638)

Arts Providers		4th
	Independent artists	4th
	Arts and culture employees	280th
	Arts and culture organizations	1st
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	6th
Arts Dollars		12th
	Program revenue	10th
	Contributed revenue	15th
	Total expenses	10th
	Total compensation	13th
Government Support		257th
	State arts dollars	122nd
	State arts grants	58th
	Federal arts dollars	793rd
	Federal arts grants	690th

 

Steamboat Springs, CO, was founded on a love of the arts, from the Ute and Fremont Indigenous peoples who created artwork on rocks and in caves throughout the area to the first white homesteaders – the Crawford family, who brought paints and an organ when they first arrived. In 1915, Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp opened permanently in Strawberry Park and has brought national renown to the area. Today, Steamboat Springs is thriving with arts and culture from art galleries, opera, music, dance, theater, distilleries, breweries, and unique architecture and design. This community ranks 1st in arts and cultural organizations and 4th on independent artists per capita. Through its evolution from a rural community to a nationally recognized outdoor recreation destination, Steamboat Springs has stayed true to its heritage through infusing cultural design elements in its city planning, recognition and celebration of its roots, and continual expansion of arts and culture. Steamboat was the first Certified Colorado Creative District to have multiple satellite locations, which extend beyond downtown Steamboat. Strings Music Festival and Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp are the two largest arts organizations in the community, bringing visitors from across the country. There are also numerous smaller nonprofit arts organizations that deliver big impact to the community and its visitors, including Opera Steamboat, Yampa Valley Choral Society, Piknik Theatre, Steamboat Symphony Orchestra, Chief Theater, Elevation Dance, Steamboat Dance Theatre, Steamboat Art Museum, Tread of Pioneers Museum, over 15 art galleries, and 75 published authors. Steamboat Springs is strong in dance, visual arts, heritage, music, writing, design, and opera. The majority of professional artists tend to be over the age of 40, but there are also younger, emerging artists. Despite low rankings on state and federal Government Support, there is strong financial support from the community through memberships, donors, and sponsors. Over the past five years, the city and chamber have become increasingly supportive of arts and culture, thanks in part to a better understanding of the economic impact that the arts have on the community.

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#3 Heber, UT (pop. 76,236)

Arts Providers		8th
	Independent artists	5th
	Arts and culture employees	124th
	Arts and culture organizations	73rd
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	8th
Arts Dollars		40th
	Program revenue	41st
	Contributed revenue	40th
	Total expenses	37th
	Total compensation	45th
Government Support		10th
	State arts dollars	63rd
	State arts grants	47th
	Federal arts dollars	9th
	Federal arts grants	14th

 

The Heber (formerly Summit Park), UT, MSA includes all of Wasatch County and Summit County, home to Park City and its two ski resorts. At certain times of the year, the tourist population of Park City greatly exceeds the number of permanent residents, making the availability of the arts high on a per capita basis. Additionally, the city is home to the Sundance Film Festival, which is the United States’ largest independent film festival, the Sundance Institute, Park City Institute, Park City Chamber Music Society, Park City Arts & Music Conservatory, Egyptian Theatre, Park City Film, and the Deer Valley Music Festival, which is the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera’s summer home. Park City Summit County Arts Council has incubated numerous arts and culture organizations, built audiences for established and emerging artists, and helped promote the area as a world-class cultural tourist destination. It produces annual programs such as Art on the Trails, Summit Arts Showcase, Monster Drawing Rally, and the County Fair Fine Arts exhibit and works in partnership with other nonprofits to connect creative content to the community. Wasatch County is home to the Heber Valley Western Music and Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The area ranks 8th on overall Arts Providers and in the top 1% on both independent artists (5th) and arts, culture and entertainment firms per capita (8th). Furthermore, Summit Park ranks 9th and 14th in the U.S. on federal arts dollars and arts grants, respectively.

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#4 Hailey, ID (pop. 24,127)

Arts Providers		23rd
	Independent artists	7th
	Arts and culture employees	459th
	Arts and culture organizations	16th
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	75th
Arts Dollars		13th
	Program revenue	9th
	Contributed revenue	11th
	Total expenses	21st
	Total compensation	18th
Government Support		338th
	State arts dollars	245th
	State arts grants	83rd
	Federal arts dollars	690th
	Federal arts grants	690th

 

NEW COMMUNITY - Hailey, ID, is “Idaho’s Hometown in the Mountains” and is nestled in the majestic Central Idaho Rockies, 150 miles from Boise. Hailey shares the Metropolitan Division with Sun Valley, also rich in arts and culture. Hailey has an abundance of arts and cultural activities and events, including theater, renowned music festivals, and a thriving community of artists living in a city that supports the arts in its many diverse forms. The Hailey Arts Commission manages the Percent for Art Program, which mandates that 1% of the total cost of all construction, improvements, or renovation projects undertaken by the city be set aside for public art projects. Sun Valley is home to the Sun Valley Museum of Art, the annual Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival, Company of Fools Theatre, and The Spot. The area has more than a dozen galleries, the lauded Writers' Conference, the Sun Valley Film Festival, Argyros Performing Arts Center, and free summer symphony concerts in the Sun Valley Pavilion. Art, culture, and agriculture intersect at the annual Trailing of the Sheep festival, which celebrates Basque cultural heritage with folk dancers and storytelling. The festival is rated as one of the top 10 fall festivals in the world by msn.com and has international appeal, drawing over 25,000 visitors from around the world. Hailey is in the top 1% on independent artists per capita and ranks 9th on program revenue.

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#5 Glenwood Springs, CO (pop. 77,828) 

Arts Providers		68th
	Independent artists	45th
	Arts and culture employees	565th
	Arts and culture organizations	11th
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	54th
Arts Dollars		23rd
	Program revenue	19th
	Contributed revenue	25th
	Total expenses	34th
	Total compensation	23rd
Government Support		134th
	State arts dollars	365th
	State arts grants	277th
	Federal arts dollars	186th
	Federal arts grants	59th

 

RETURNING FROM 2016 - The Glenwood Springs, CO, MSA is nestled in the Rocky Mountains with a vibrant arts and culture scene that encompasses visual arts, dance, fine art, theater, classical and popular music, arts classes, and outdoor entertainment. It is comprised of Glenwood and Pitkin counties, home to the towns of Glenwood Springs and Aspen. The largest juried art show in the state has been held there for over half a century. Large marble and metal sculptures are “planted” throughout town, and the vibrant music scene attracts young musicians. The Glenwood Springs Arts Council, located in a restored hydroelectric plant, has a rich tradition of arts education and celebration, hosting events such as International Jazz Day and A Woman’s Touch Art Show. Throughout the year, internationally acclaimed gatherings, art exhibitions, performances, and lectures define Aspen’s unique culture at organizations such as the Aspen Art Museum, Red Brick Center for the Arts, and Theatre Aspen. Glenwood Springs is in the top 4% on every Arts Dollar measure. It also ranks high on the number of arts organizations per capita.

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#6 Vineyard Haven, MA (pop. 17,332) 

Arts Providers		137th
	Independent artists	204th
	Arts and culture employees	213th
	Arts and culture organizations	3rd
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	439th
Arts Dollars		17th
	Program revenue	25th
	Contributed revenue	12th
	Total expenses	18th
	Total compensation	25th
Government Support		6th
	State arts dollars	182nd
	State arts grants	15th
	Federal arts dollars	21st
	Federal arts grants	3rd

 

The Vineyard Haven, MA, MSA is comprised of Dukes County, and named for Vineyard Haven, a small village in the town of Tisbury, located on the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard. The density and diversity of businesses in the creative economy make Vineyard Haven a very distinctive arts and culture-rich community. Most notably, Vineyard Haven ranks 3rd in arts and cultural organizations, 12th on contributed revenue, and 3rd on federal arts grants per capita. The Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District boasts myriad successful projects, including the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, historic Williams Street, Owen Park, and the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center. Vineyard Haven’s arts and culture landscape includes wooden ship builders, a vibrant film center, architects, interior designers, writers, clothing designers, bookmakers, photographers, copper sculptures, wooden sign makers, musicians, a professional performing arts theater and amphitheater, jewelry designers, historic tall ships, ceramic and glass designers, wampum designers, and visual artists. Vineyard Arts Project is an incubator for new works in dance and theater. Featherstone Center for the Arts, The Aquinnah Cultural Center, Beach Road Weekend, the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society, Martha’s Vineyard Jazz and Blues Summerfest, and the Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival are just a few of the other arts and culture attractions one can find on Martha's Vineyard.

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#7 Oneonta, NY (pop. 59,493) 

Arts Providers		111th
	Independent artists	862nd
	Arts and culture employees	17th
	Arts and culture organizations	31st
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	386th
Arts Dollars		19th
	Program revenue	17th
	Contributed revenue	24th
	Total expenses	20th
	Total compensation	20th
Government Support		48th
	State arts dollars	43rd
	State arts grants	213th
	Federal arts dollars	40th
	Federal arts grants	151st

 

Otsego County, represented as the Oneonta, NY, MSA, takes community development and living green to heart. Culture is abundant with world-class opera, national art exhibitions, theater, concerts, and a rich historical past. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum can be found in Cooperstown, which draws nearly 300,000 visitors per year. Cooperstown is also home to the Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ Museum, and the famous Glimmerglass Opera. The Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center serves a three-county area with performing arts events and educational outreach. The center was also deemed the “greenest” building to ever go through the NYSERDA program, which earned the venue a financial award. Arts in Oneonta is supported through the Community Arts Network of Oneonta and the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts. The community is ranked 17th on both arts and culture employees and program revenue. It scores in the top 3% of communities on Arts Dollars, as well as on each of the four underlying measures.

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#8 Hudson, NY (pop. 59,461) 

Arts Providers		38th
	Independent artists	32nd
	Arts and culture employees	65th
	Arts and culture organizations	21st
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	146th
Arts Dollars		69th
	Program revenue	50th
	Contributed revenue	88th
	Total expenses	74th
	Total compensation	63rd
Government Support		19th
	State arts dollars	8th
	State arts grants	22nd
	Federal arts dollars	124th
	Federal arts grants	52nd

 

The Hudson, NY, MSA encompasses the charming riverfront city of Hudson and all of Columbia County, which is surrounded by the Catskills and Berkshires. Over the centuries, Hudson has been able to reinvent itself from a whaling town to a vibrant cultural community. Many artists, as well as many weekend visitors, have relocated to Hudson full-time. Today the city is known for its arts, architecture, antique shops, galleries, and restaurants. There are numerous cultural venues including Basilica Hudson, a multidisciplinary arts center housed in a solar-powered 1880s factory; Club Helsinki, an acoustically designed, multitiered live music venue; and Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House, a multidisciplinary arts center housing the state’s oldest surviving theater. Just a short drive from Hudson's main center is a major draw for art enthusiasts, the Olana State Historic Site, home of Frederic Edwin Church, a major figure in the Hudson River School of landscape painting. More broadly in the county, one finds Ancram Opera House, Mac-Haydn Theatre, PS21, and Art Omi, a 200-acre sculpture park. This vibrant community is in the top 2% on Government Support, ranking 8th on state arts dollars.

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#9 Bennington, VT (pop. 35,470) 

Arts Providers		146th
	Independent artists	218th
	Arts and culture employees	180th
	Arts and culture organizations	7th
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	376th
Arts Dollars		20th
	Program revenue	32nd
	Contributed revenue	28th
	Total expenses	13th
	Total compensation	12th
Government Support		24th
	State arts dollars	81st
	State arts grants	87th
	Federal arts dollars	83rd
	Federal arts grants	23rd

 

Bennington County, VT, is home to a diverse population of visual and performing artists who are community-oriented and take part in public art projects, individual showings, and nonprofit events. From the earliest days of the American Craft Movement when artisans of Bennington Potters established the area as an economy defined by the arts, to today, where avant-garde expression is being fervently cultivated at Bennington College, Bennington and cultural vibrancy have been synonymous. Positioned along the cultural corridor, Bennington County stretches to the Berkshires in the east, to the rolling hills and farmland of upstate NY in the south and west, and all the way up to Dorset, VT, and the edge of the Green Mountains in the north. There are literally hundreds of artistic activities and opportunities, including myriad galleries and studios, classroom and skill instruction for all ages, multiple theaters presenting both community and equity productions, and an endless array of platforms offering visual and musical entertainment choices. The breadth of opportunity for engagement and participation truly defines the cultural vibrancy of both the North and South Shires of Bennington County. The South Shire is home to Bennington College, which has long been a bastion for visual and performing artists at the forefront of their fields across all genres. Nearby, the Vermont Arts Exchange provides studio-based programs and camps for children and also hosts an annual Basement Music Series that features nationally touring groups. In downtown Bennington, Sonatina, an educational piano retreat for children and adults of all ages, celebrated its 50th birthday last year. Nearby, you will find Oldcastle Theater, an equity house in its 48th season, and Bennington Museum, which holds the world’s largest collection of Grandma Moses original paintings and has an impressive representation of modernist works on display. Bennington is also home to the Southern Vermont Art and Craft Festival, which draws thousands of artists and tourists to the area each summer. Meanwhile, the North Shire is the home of the Manchester Music Festival, a monthlong concert program for chamber and operatic music. Southern Vermont Arts Center boasts a large pavilion for those performances; it also offers workshops and summer camps for children and adults, along with extensive gallery space for its permanent collection and other exhibitions. Finally, the Dorset Playhouse is a staple, presenting a community theater troupe during the winter months and hosting the acclaimed Dorset Theater Festival during the summer. The town of Bennington, in conjunction with the Bennington Area Arts Council, commissioned a Cultural Plan that was completed in May 2019. This plan encompasses all shires within Bennington County and will provide a road map for how towns can help to facilitate and promote a healthy economy. Being identified as one of the top 10 most vibrant small arts communities in the U.S. for the sixth year in a row, Bennington ranks 7th on arts and cultural organizations, 13th on total expenses, and 12th on total compensation paid to those working in arts and culture.

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#10 Hood River, OR (pop. 23,382) 

Arts Providers		43rd
	Independent artists	11th
	Arts and culture employees	269th
	Arts and culture organizations	35th
	Arts, culture & entertainment firms	128th
Arts Dollars		45th
	Program revenue	190th
	Contributed revenue	3rd
	Total expenses	57th
	Total compensation	113th
Government Support		328th
	State arts dollars	223rd
	State arts grants	82nd
	Federal arts dollars	793rd
	Federal arts grants	690th

 

RETURNING FROM 2018 - Despite of (or perhaps because of) its small population, the Hood River, OR, MSA is home to a great number and range of artists. While individual artists comprise the bulk of the arts landscape, there are also several arts organizations—in addition to several world-class museums— within 20 miles of the heart of town. The MSA includes the Columbia Center for the Arts and the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. It is no surprise, then, that Hood River is in the top 3% of communities for independent artists as well as arts and culture organizations per capita. The city hosts a Big Art Walk every year, which has nearly doubled the number of installations since its inception four years ago. Support for the arts is strong, coming from a diverse set of advocates: the city, the Chamber of Commerce, and several foundations, with a significant amount coming from the city’s citizens themselves. Hood River ranks 3rd in per capita contributed revenue.

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