The Nation's Most Arts-Vibrant Communities of 2024: County and State Rankings
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA maintains #1 position on the list of most arts-vibrant large communities. Syracuse, NY; Auburn, NY; Branson, MO and Taos, NM secure rankings for the first time.Read the Full List
In-Depth Research Across Six Focus Areas
Get in-depth insights on topics that affect arts organizations across various sectors and budget sizes, across the country. These reports feature data visualizations and observations from the field with the goal of providing insights on trends so that arts leaders are equipped with the latest trends for strategy development. View All Research
Arts Audiences
Insights into what drives attendance and engagement, powered by community data and millions of ticketing transactions.
Arts Vibrancy
Discover how cultural activity, public investment, and participation strengthen creative ecosystems nationwide.
Creative Workforce
Research on employment, demographics, wages, and inclusion across the arts and culture workforce.
Grantmaking Evaluations
Data‑driven assessments that help funders understand the reach, equity, and impact of their investments.
Sector Trends
Analysis of financial and operational trends that reveal the sector’s challenges, opportunities, and long‑term health.
All Publications
Discover our latest publications, reports, and events spanning the full breadth of arts research.
Our Partners & Clients
SMU DataArts partners with organizations whose strategies have wide influence across the sector to maximize impact.
As a research center at Southern Methodist University collaborating across multiple disciplines, we develop innovative approaches and curated datasets to address critical challenges faced by the arts and cultural sector.
Photo Credits: Ananya Dance Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, photo by Jim Smith. Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Philadelphia, PA, photo by Yuan Liu. Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, CA, photo by Ryan Gobuty/Gensler. Portland Opera, Big Night Concert (2017), photo by Cory Weaver. Battery Dance, New York, NY, photo by Darial Sneed.
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