Arts/Business Survey yields surprising results

IFACCA/Artshub, 31 January 2005, USA

The Business Committee for The Arts, a not-for-profit organisation based in New York, has released the surprising results of the survey they commissioned into the state of American arts and business. The results revealed that nearly 90% of the record $3.32 billion that business gave to the arts in 2003 came from small (49%) and midsize (40%) companies. With a margin of error of only 4% this is a very large – and somewhat unexpected statistic. ‘The survey findings dispel the notion that only big businesses supports the arts,’ said Judith A. Jedlicka, President, BCA. ‘Small companies – those with annual revenues of less than $1 million – and midsize companies – those with annual revenues ranging from $1 million to $49.9 million – support the arts because they have deep roots in their communities. They recognise that the arts improve the quality of life of a community, enhance the workplace and enrich educational opportunities for children – all of which can have a considerable impact on the success of a company.’ The survey was conducted by telephone during July and August 2004, and encompassed 600 different companies. The majority of them (59%), said that they support the arts because “it is a good thing to do”, while 65% percent said their decision to fund arts was based around a perceived need in their operating communities. Nearly three quarters of respondents (74%) said that they would increase their funding of the arts, “if there were a proven need”, while just over half indicated that their support depended on the company’s profitability. The most important factors deciding which arts organisations a company funded were whether the organisation offered education initiatives and programs to disadvantaged groups (both at 72%). Other reasons for support including whether the organisation tied their art to social issues such as hunger, violence or homelessness and whether their would be opportunities for company recognition (both 61%). For 2005, 19% of respondents projected an increase in their support of the arts. The interesting implication to this research is the vacuum left by big business. Though most large business are involved in arts assistance in one way or another, the large discrepancy in the survey findings begs several questions. How is big business funding the arts, and how is it different from the smaller and medium companies? For more information about BCA, the survey and information about how to order it, please visit the Business Committee for the Arts’ web site or CLICK HERE.

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