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2015 LOCAL ARTS AGENCY CENSUS <br />EXCERPT FROM THE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS LOCAL ARTS AGENCY CENSUS <br />Americans for the Arts defines a local arts agency (LAA) as a private organization or an agency of local <br />government that promotes, supports, and develops the arts at the local level. LAAs are not discipline- <br />specific—rather, they work to sustain their entire local arts industry. Each of the 4,500 LAAs in America <br />is unique to the community that it serves and each evolves with its community—no two are exactly alike. <br />In 2015, Americans for the Arts partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts to conduct The <br />Local Arts Agency Census, the most comprehensive survey of the local arts agency (LAA) field ever <br />conducted. Its purpose was to illuminate the ever adapting role LAAs play in ensuring the arts have a <br />vital presence in every community. <br />The survey process was designed by a task force of local arts agency, research, and policy leaders to <br />ensure relevance and rigor. The Census was composed of both a long -form survey and a short -form <br />survey that were sent to the 4,377 LAAs in the United States known to Americans for the Arts. A total of <br />1,127 LAAs responded (641 submitted the long -form; 486 participated via the short -form), providing <br />invaluable details about their budgets, programs, partnerships, grantmaking, diversity, and staffing. <br />While the overall response rate was 26 percent, the rate of response from large- and mid-sized LAAs was <br />very high, while small and volunteer -driven LAAs were under -represented in the survey respondents. <br />The most important aspect that all LAAs share is the goal of enabling diverse forms of arts and culture to <br />thrive, ensuring their broad accessibility to the public and building healthier communities through the <br />arts. To accomplish this work, LAAs are involved in some or all of the following: <br />• Policy and advocacy: 95 percent champion policies and funding for broader and more equitable <br />access to the arts. <br />• Partnerships: 92 percent collaborate with a community agency or organization; 76 percent have <br />three or more ongoing collaborations. <br />• Grantmaking: 53 percent provide direct community investment in local artists and/or arts <br />organizations. <br />AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS <br />M�l• <br />