The Visual Arts Program of the National Endowment of the Arts undertook a survey to determine the economic conditions of artists and the processes by which they exhibit works in four cities located outside the major art centers of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The selected market areas included Houston, Minneapolis, Washington, and San Francisco. Research indicated that these cities have significant markets for locally produced art, which is mainly sold by galleries and museums. However, artists are dissatisfied with exhibition opportunities, especially with lengthy waiting periods. Among various methods used to locate exhibition opportunities, personal contacts are most used, and service organizations are least utilized. The data indicated major differences between the artists and exhibitors on the perception of fairness in the exhibition selection process. Obtaining studio space is a major problem for artists in all four cities, and both artists and exhibitors advocate public acquisition of buildings which could be rented for studio space. Few artists earn a living solely from art sales. Most hold other jobs or are supported by another person. Median art income for the artists sampled was $718 in 1978. Median production costs were $1,450, approximately twice the median income. Tables and figures are included. (JHP)

Met lit. opg. - Met reg. Case study of the St. Louis art market. The author has interviewed the local artists, dealers and collectors.

The third in a series that examines the state of the arts in America, this analysis shows, in addition to lines around the block for special exhibits, well-paid superstar artists, flourishing university visual arts programs, and a global expansion of collectors, developments in the visual arts also tell a story of rapid, even seismic change, systemic imbalances, and dislocation.

This book examines recent trends in the performing arts and discusses howthe arts are likely to evolve in the future. It is the first book to providea comprehensive overview of the performing arts, including analysis ofopera, theater, dance, and music, in both their live and recorded forms. Theauthors focus on trends affecting four aspects of the performing arts--audiences, performers, arts organizations, and financing--and offer a visionfor the future. The book discusses the implications of current and likelyfuture developments and considers public policy issues such as publicfunding for the arts.

Recognizing the need to conduct audience studies to aid in arts organizations' policy development, this manual was developed to inform arts organization personnel on how to conduct a valid survey; to discourage poor surveys and raise the standards of audience information; and to provide guidance on when survey consultants should be chosen as well as what to expect from a consultant in terms of audience survey specifications. The manual can be used in a wide range of arts settings and includes survey questions as well as step-by-step instructions on planning, conducting, analyzing, and presenting audience surveys. Field tests were conducted to find out what the manual could do, and site visits monitored the progress of five projects. The manual contains six chapters: (1) "Why an Audience Survey"; (2) "Developing the Questionnaire"; (3) "Sample Design"; (4) "Collecting Survey Data"; (5) "Data Processing"; and (6) "Interpreting and Presenting Survey Results." An appendix of Model Survey Questions is included. (KWL)