Each year, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) tracks how much each state arts agency receives from its legislature to support arts, culture, and creativity in its communities.
These funds fuel more than 23,000 grant awards to organizations, schools, and artists; ensuring that the benefits of the arts—economic, educational, and cultural—reach people across the country.
Read on for more insights into national and Midwest arts funding trends.
Pam Breaux, President and CEO, NASAA“State arts agencies continue to demonstrate their vital role in fostering economic resilience, cultural vibrancy and community initiatives.”
Public Funding for the Arts: A Mixed Picture
The 2025 data tells an interesting story about state-level arts funding.
Nationally, legislative appropriations to state arts agencies totaled $694.3 million in FY2025—an 8.1% decrease from the $755 million appropriated in FY2024.
This drop translates to $2.02 per capita in public arts funding across the country—a $0.21 decrease from the previous year.
However, this decline is primarily driven by significant adjustments in large-budget states, including Florida, New York and Illinois.* When these outliers are removed, the broader national trend is more stable.
Twenty-six states reported increases in legislative appropriations, with a median growth of 4.5%. Meanwhile, 18 states saw declines, with a median reduction of 8.5%.
Despite the challenges, arts funding remains above pre-pandemic levels, signaling ongoing support for creative industries, artists, and cultural organizations.
However, inflation and increasing population stresses the power of legislative appropriations.
“Despite increases in total funding, population growth and the effects of inflation have reduced the real value of per capita support over time,” writes the NASAA team. “|This] highlight[s] the need for funding increases that keep pace with both economic changes and demographic growth.”
*In Illinois, although there is a reported budget decrease due to changes in one-time capital funds, the baseline appropriation has increased. More on that below!
A Closer Look at the Midwest
Across the nine states that compose Arts Midwest’s service, legislative appropriations to state arts agencies increased, breaking with national trends.
Legislative appropriations for the arts in the Midwest totaled $123.2 million in FY2025 (excluding line items, one-time special funds for specific projects). This is an increase of 10.9% over 2024 appropriations.
On average, 2025 per capita state arts funding is $2.13, an increase of $0.16 since 2024.
Here’s a quick snapshot of per capita arts funding in each state excluding line items, along with how they rank nationally:
| State | Per Capita Spending | National Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $1.55 | 17 |
| Indiana | $0.75 | 32 |
| Iowa | $0.35 | 46 |
| Michigan | $0.94 | 28 |
| Minnesota | $10.07 | 1 |
| North Dakota | $1.64 | 16 |
| Ohio | $2.15 | 12 |
| South Dakota | $1.52 | 18 |
| Wisconsin | $0.18 | 48 |
Minnesota continues to lead the nation in per capita spending on state arts agencies, thanks in large part to the Legacy Amendment, a 25-year investment in clean water, land, and legacy, which includes preservation of arts and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin and Iowa rank near the bottom nationally, with some of the lowest per capita funding levels for state arts agencies.
With Minnesota removed from the data set, the average per capita spending in Midwestern states is $1.13, quite below the national average of $2.02.
“Per capita comparisons are not the only metric to look at to understand the health of the arts sector in each state,” says George Tzougros, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board. “But, as trends in private investments and individual donations shift and change, legislative appropriations are an incredibly important ingredient of the arts funding mix.”
Why These Numbers Matter
State arts agencies receive just 0.049% of total state general fund expenditures across the nation, yet they play an essential role in supporting artists, arts education, and cultural organizations.
“Despite fluctuations in funding, the sustained investment in state arts programs reflects the role these programs play in sustaining local economies and cultural resources across communities,” says Pam Breaux, President and CEO of NASAA.
As a U.S. Regional Arts Organization working alongside Midwest state arts agencies, we see firsthand how these funds make a difference. State arts agencies provide direct grants, develop community-based programs, support cultural institutions, and make the arts more accessible in urban and rural areas alike.
“The Midwest is made up of working artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs. They contribute to economies, make our communities healthier and stronger, and create places where people want to live,” says George Tzougros, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board. “And in turn, state arts agencies help build an ecosystem where the creative economy thrives.”
We’re honored to work with state arts agencies to sustain and strengthen the creative sector—and to explore how these investments continue to shape the Midwest’s cultural landscape.
Read the Full Report
Want to dive deeper? Explore NASAA’s interactive dashboards, state-by-state funding data, and national trends.
Learn More