A survey of artists

The National Endowment for the Arts has released a new survey of artists working in the U.S. See where you fit in. Among the findings:

Demographic trends

  • Between
    1970 and 1990, the number of artists more than doubled, from 737,000 to
    1.7 million – a much larger percentage gain than for the labor force as
    a whole. Between 1990 and 2005, the growth of artists slowed to a 16
    percent rate, about the same as for the overall labor force.

Geographic distribution

  • Opportunities
    for artistic employment are greater in metropolitan areas. More than
    one-fifth of all U.S. artists live in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago,
    Washington, and Boston. Half of all artists live in 30 metropolitan
    areas.
  • Unique regional concentrations emerge. New
    Mexico has the highest share of fine artists, Vermont has the highest
    proportion of writers, and Tennessee, the highest proportion of
    musicians.

Employment and income      

  • Artists are entrepreneurial – 3.5 times more likely to be self-employed.

Education level    

  • Artists are more educated.  Artists are twice as likely to have a college degree as other U.S. workers.

Share this post

2 thoughts on “A survey of artists”

  1. As a person of dual citizenship: the republic of Vermont and New Mexico, I’m not surprised that both my homes are #1!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top

Yes! Please send the Comprehensive Exhibition Checklist + Timeline

You will also receive my almost-weekly news for your art business. You can unsubscribe at anytime.
Privacy + Terms

Registration Open!

If you’ve ever thought about having a sale of your art but didn’t know where to start or are worried about discounting your work, please join me for PROFITABLE PROMOTIONS on November 14. 

It’s for you if you have older inventory to move, you want to generate more income, and you want to use your email list more effectively.

May I send you this?

I would love to send you my Comprehensive Exhibition Checklist + Timeline. It’s 5 pages of tasks for now, later, and after your show. 

Alyson's signature

You’ll also receive my almost-weekly news for your art business.

Privacy + Terms