Theme: Arts Participation

On days when we create, Midwesterners spend an average of 2 hours and 20 minutes - 31 minutes longer than creators elsewhere in the country. 

53% of Midwest artists report doing volunteer arts work in the past year.

2.9 million hours of arts activity take place every day across the Midwest.

45% of Americans who participate in the arts engage in more than one mode: consuming, creating, supporting, or learning.

3 nationally representative surveys — SPPA, HTOPS, GSS — all confirm arts participation builds civic community.

66% of arts attendees say supporting a community organization or event motivates their attendance.

77% of adults who attend arts events say socializing with family or friends is their #1 reason for going.

People who participate in the arts are nearly 4x as likely to engage civically compared to non-arts participants.

55+ adults are the fastest-growing segment of arts audiences nationwide.

More than half of museums offer free admission to visitors.