Landscape Scan Survey

In the fall of 2019, we conducted a landscape scan of artists and organizations working for social impact through artistic practice. The study was supported, in part, by the Faculty Fellowship Program at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, funded by The Gambrell Foundation. Among our findings:

  • On average, surveyed artists self-fund about half of their work.

  • 1 in 5 of surveyed arts organizations offer all of their programming for free.

  • Nearly 50% of surveyed arts orgs have no full-time paid employees.

  • 3 out of 4 surveyed arts orgs offer educational programming.

  • 4 out of 5 surveyed non-arts orgs would like to expand arts programming.

  • While most artists and organizations address a wide range (four or more) of social issues, three are primary:

    • Race and ethnicity

    • Education

    • Health and wellness

We heard from

59

Independent
Artists

64

Arts-Based
Organizations

25

Non Arts-Based Collaborators

Finance

 

“Consistent funding from the government agency (local and state arts councils) is not there for grassroots and mid-size organizations.”

Artists

  • Funding from: Fee for Service (27 recipients), ASC (21 recipients), Individual gifts (20 recipients), Knight Foundation (10 recipients), Corporate donors (5 recipients), NC Arts Council (4 recipients)

  • Self-funded work: Black Male (60%), Black Female (58%), While Male (50%), White Female (48%)

  • Implementation cost (respondents): 9 at $5-10K; 13 at $1-5K; 9 at <1K (and 8 at >$20K)

Arts Organizations

  • 30 respondents have no full-time paid employees

  • 12 organizations present 100% FREE programming; 12 present 75% FREE programming

  • Annual budgets: 7 orgs. - $1-5M; 15 orgs. - $200 – 500K; 11 orgs. - $51-100K; 9 orgs. – less than $10K

  • 39 organizations state that it costs $20K+ to implement programs/activity

 

Social Issues

 

“All cultural programming has social impact. The question is, who is it you’re intentionally serving or unintentionally leaving out. This is the cultural equity conversation the sector really needs to have.”

Artists

  • Respondents are not focused on one issue; 18 marked 4+

    • Race/Ethnicity (34 responses)

    • Education (31 responses)

    • Health/Wellness (20 responses)

    • Immigration/immigrant experience (19 responses)

    • Environment (15 responses)

    • LGBTQ+ issues (13 responses)

    • Criminal justice reform (9), Housing (8), Women & gender issues (6)

Arts Organizations

  • Respondents are not focused on one issue; 20 marked 4+

    • Race/Ethnicity (47 responses)

    • Education (36 responses)

    • Health/Wellness (29 responses)

    • LGBTQ+ issues (23 responses)

    • Environment (17 responses)

    • Immigration/immigrant experience (16 responses)

    • Criminal justice reform (15), Housing (12), Women & gender issues (4)

Non-Arts Organizations

Seven orgs. marked 4+ issues; top issues are Race/Ethnicity, Education, Housing, Health/Wellness, Environment

 

Capacity & Breadth

 

“Partnering with arts organizations is critical to delivery on our new mission statement that focuses on inspiration and activation for environmentalism.”

Artists

  • 18 (of 59) artists have worked here for 10+ years; 11 (of 59) 1-3 years

  • Artists live throughout the county (32 zip codes), work across the county

  • 43 respondents (59 total) partner with other individuals or organizations

  • TIME remains insufficient and elusive

Arts Organizations

  • 28 organizations have been working 10+ years in Charlotte-Mecklenburg

  • Arts organizations are in 25 different zip codes

  • 58 respondents partner with other individuals or organizations

Non-Arts Organizations

6 (of 25) organizations have been working 4-6 years, 2 at 15+ years. 19 (of 25) organizations interested in expanding or offering more arts-based programming within institution

 

Community Perception

 

“Professional work that executed by highly trained artists also provides a richness and pride in community that is vital to a healthy cultural sector.”

Artists

“[My hope/vision is] to unite our Charlotte artistic community together with our neighbors, business, and schools.”

Arts Organizations

“The biggest challenge is organizational behavior/mindset. We are in the midst of a shift in the way we view our organization and its means of service to this community. This is a challenge because it requires new ways of thinking and reallocation of time, capacity, and funds.”

Non-Arts Organizations

“The tie between artists and mental health is extremely important to be examined and given a spotlight so as to help the public understand why we need artists to be brave, confident, and vulnerable.”

 

Photos: The Nouveau Sud Project by Brian Twitt; Charlotte Art League Exhibition; Jazz Art Charlotte, Jazz Room