SMU DataArts - Cultural Data Profile

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Image courtesy of Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, Chicago, IL. Photo by G. Thomas Ward (2009). Image courtesy of Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, Chicago, IL. Photo by G. Thomas Ward (2009).

Leveraging Data to Advance Arts and Culture

SMU DataArts provides data-driven insights for the agencies, funders, and organizations shaping arts and culture across the country. We specialize in identifying trends affecting cultural organizations, assessing vibrancy across the arts ecosystem, and illuminating barriers to access and inclusion in all areas of culture.  

As a research center at Southern Methodist University (SMU) that collaborates across multiple disciplines, we develop innovative approaches and curated datasets—and apply them to critical challenges facing the sector.

Our Mission

To equip the arts and culture ecosystem with data and research insights that help build strong, vibrant, and equitable communities.  We partner with organizations whose strategies have wide influence across the sector to maximize impact.    

Our Values

SMU DataArts recognizes that our society is shaped by a complex web of inequities. We are committed to making research and resources accessible to all persons regardless of race, age, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and/or socioeconomic status.

We believe that equitable work starts from within. We strive to build and sustain an inclusive team culture, practice equitable hiring and employment, and reflect critically on how our own identities and experiences influence the work we do.

We value diverse perspectives, and we aim to conduct our work with transparency and a conscious effort to reduce bias. We invite feedback from the field and seek to empower collaborators and communities through shared responsibility in the research process.

We prioritize data collection and research projects that:

  • Advance equitable access to arts participation, creative resources, and employment opportunities within the cultural sector.
  • Celebrate and support the arts and culture of communities of color.
  • Yield broadly disseminated insights designed to enable informed decision-making across the field.
  • Foster equitable and reciprocal data practices through transparency, meaningful community engagement, and co-learning with research participants.

We hold ourselves accountable by setting goals, tracking progress, and sharing regular updates with our staff. We regularly collect data on diversity and inclusion within our own organization and make it available on our website. We continue to invest in building a workplace that is inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of both our team and the communities we serve.

Our History

SMU DataArts is the result of a 2018 merger between DataArts and the National Center for Arts Research (NCAR). DataArts, formerly the Cultural Data Project, was founded as a project within the Pew Charitable Trusts in 2004 to address a longstanding need for reliable information on the cultural sector and became an independent 501c3 in 2013. The Meadows School of the Arts and the Cox School of Business launched the National Center for Arts Research (NCAR) in 2012 to act as a catalyst for the transformation and sustainability of the national arts and cultural community through research. SMU DataArts is currently a research center housed within the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU. 

See What Makes Us Tick

Our Strategy

SMU DataArts is pursuing a three-year strategy (FY 2026–2028) to build on our role as a trusted research partner for the sector, equipping the agencies, funders, and organizations shaping arts and culture with strategic insights. 

Image courtesy of Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Philly En Vivo at the Kimmel Center. Photo by Daryl Peveto... Image courtesy of Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Philly En Vivo at the Kimmel Center. Photo by Daryl Peveto (2014).

Advisory Board & Staff

Building a national information resource for the cultural sector takes teamwork. Our advisory board and staff includes artists, enthusiasts, and devoted patrons of the organizations that we serve. We’re also just a little bit obsessed with data and how it can fuel the arts.

Image courtesy of Silk Road Rising, Chicago, IL. Fawzia Mirza in Aditi Brennan Kapil's "Brahman/i". Photo by Michael Brosilow (2014). Image courtesy of Silk Road Rising, Chicago, IL. Fawzia Mirza in Aditi Brennan Kapil's "Brahman/i". Photo by Michael Brosilow (2014).

Staff Demographics and Inclusion

Utilizing our own powerful tool, we periodically survey our staff, board, volunteers, and independent contractors to help drive strategic discussion and decision-making toward advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization.

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