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Executive Summary of Findings September 2010 Tennesseans for the Arts 2010 ARTS ADVOCACY SURVEY

About the Survey: Goals To document what the arts constituency expects of public officials in Tennessee. To assess current levels of advocacy activity in the arts community. To provide an avenue for TFTA member input. To spark thinking about how to enhance advocacy efforts.

About the Survey: Methods Survey of arts constituents Administered in July and August of 2010 Responses recruited by TFTA and its partners 20 questions asked via Web survey Anonymous (to encourage candor) Administered by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA)

1,061 Survey Respondents Statewide Who responded?

Respondents by County Who responded? 64 counties - more than two thirds of the state – participated. total # of respondents per county

Respondents by County Who responded? WEST 26% of TN population 25% of survey respondents MIDDLE 36% of TN population 29% of survey respondents EAST 37% of TN population 42% of survey respondents 5% of survey respondents did not identify their county.

Respondents by County Who responded? Arts organization 40% Civic organization 2% Individual artist 16% Volunteer arts supporter or patron 13% Art-related business 4% Other business 4% School or school district 11% N/R 10%

Respondents by County Arts supporters vote!

Respondents by County Arts supporters vote! Source: Division of Elections, State of Tennessee % of TN registered voters who voted in %

Respondents by County Arts support earns votes.

Respondents by County A candidate’s support for the arts… …affects my vote. 95% Doesn’t Affect Vote (2.5%) Not Sure or N/R (2.5%) Arts support earns votes.

Respondents by County Survey participants put Tennesseans to work. Excludes responses from schools or volunteers to ensure comparability. No multipliers are used, so these are conservative estimates. Does not reflect total economic impact of the arts in TN.

Respondents by County The arts are essential to Tennessee communities. Average ratings among all respondents. Scale: 1 = not important 4 = very important.

Respondents by County Respondent rating scale: 1 = not important 4 = very important Arts education is a consensus value.

Respondents by County The arts build a positive image for Tennessee. Respondent rating scale: 1 = not important 4 = very important

Respondents by County State funding for the arts is a consensus value. Should the state of Tennessee invest public dollars in the arts? Agree 97% Disagree (1.5%) Not Sure or N/R (1.5%)

Respondents by County Respondent rating scale: 1 = strongly disagree 4 = strongly agree Average Rating State funding for the arts is a consensus value.

Respondents by County What arts supporters want from candidates: % Rating as Important or Very Important

Respondents by County Top messages for electeds: 1.The arts are critical to education 2.The arts build strong communities, enrich our lives and are an important part of Tennessee's heritage 3.The arts make Tennessee a desirable place to live, conduct business and raise families 4.The arts are an economic engine and catalyst 5.Creativity and innovation are essential

Respondents by County Supporting the arts makes good business sense. Millions of dollars in revenue are brought into the state because of fine arts, popular music, theater, and other groups around the state. The history of Tennessee is a living testament to the importance of the performing and visual arts to its people. Education and the arts cultivate the critical, creative thinking that supports innovation, renewal, and progress. We need to invest in these areas, celebrate them, and develop smart, healthy, open- minded young people to lead this country into the future. America's most marketable asset is creativity. Top messages for electeds:

Respondents by County Dissenting voices: Art has no place in politics. I have a degree in art, so obviously art is part of me, but I will join no art groups that get grants from the government. Keep everyone's tax money out of the arts.

Respondents by County Perceptions of elected officials: Average ratings. 1 = highly opposed 5 = highly supportive. How supportive of the arts is your...

Respondents by County Respondent ratings: 1 = highly opposed 5 = highly supportive Perceptions of elected officials:

Respondents by County Arts advocacy practices: Average frequency among survey respondents. 1 = Never 5 = Always

Respondents by County Top advocacy challenges: 1.Limited awareness by the public or elected officials about the value of the arts 2.The arts are regarded as less important than other issues 3.Negative perceptions about the arts 4.How? Need advocacy knowledge or skills 5.Not enough time

Respondents by County The perception that the arts are for the benefit of the wealthy. People think artists are looking for handouts and that money contributed to the arts goes to supporting people who don't want to work for themselves. With the economic downturn putting such a strain on public budgets, a lot of people feel that arts funding should be secondary to other, "more pressing" needs. Providing the necessary data to those who want real numbers about the economic impact of the arts. Everyone thinks its everyone else’s job. Top advocacy challenges:

Respondents by County Doing a candidates survey would be helpful. If TFTA does workshops for arts volunteers I would be very interested in participating. Please stay in contact with your TFTA members. Communicate frequently. It would be nice if TFTA arranged to travel to places in the state. I would be happy to host a reception and invite board members and staff of arts orgs in our county. I think hearing from TFTA about upcoming issues and action items would be beneficial. Suggestions for TFTA: Include us more. Become more involved with mandated curriculum in the schools.

Respondents by County More information on Arts Advocacy day. I always seem to find out about it either 1 or 2 days before. Spoon feed us each step. We are willing, we just don't understand the system. We don't have the time to figure it out and don't want to embarrass ourselves, our organizations or our elected officials. We are willing and passionate. Point us in the right direction. Give us support material with figures and percentages...real numbers that can be used in conversation. Not sure if you have this already but a "kit" that I could give to a Board member would be helpful. TN is a very long state. It would be nice if advocacy events could occur all over the state instead of just in Nashville. Suggestions for TFTA:

Respondents by County Appreciation for the survey. Appreciation for TFTA: “You do a tremendous job.” “Stop playing music to cows.” Other sentiments:

Respondents by County Available in the data file: Verbatim comments – Advice for TFTA – Advocacy strategies – Advocacy challenges – Messages for electeds Detailed tables

2010 ARTS ADVOCACY SURVEY