From the Field

New Research Reports from the NEA

This summer, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) published several new research reports, with topics ranging from arts participation trends to U.S. artist employment programs and more.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Activating the Arts and Creative Workforce Development at HBCUs explores the ways historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) help to support and develop arts and creative careers.
Arts Education in U.S. Public Schools: Insights from the November 2024 School Pulse Panel Survey presents data that analyzes arts education access and support, disaggregated by school size, level, region, locale, poverty level and student demographics.
Jumpstarting Artist Jobs: Case Studies of U.S. Employment Programs for Creative Workers profiles U.S. artist employment programs launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arts Participation in 2022: A Technical Summary Report uses data from the 2022 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts to track long-term arts participation trends by a variety of measures, including patterns of arts attendance, consumption of art via digital platforms, literary reading, creating or performing art, and learning in the arts.
A Decade of General Social Survey Data on Arts Participation examines both online and in-person engagement with the arts over the past 10 years.

IMLS Survey Data Shows Increase in Public Library Usage

The Institute of Museum and Library Services recently published the latest data from its Public Libraries Survey. The survey collected data from approximately 9,000 public libraries in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and outlying territories to examine the ways library services are changing to meet the needs of the public. The latest data demonstrates that public libraries are recovering strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, visits have nearly doubled since 2021, with over 800 million visits in 2023. Moreover, libraries expanded their programming significantly in 2023, offering 1.2 million more programs than in 2022; and staffing levels have largely returned to prepandemic levels. The survey also offers insights into circulation, size of collections, public service hours, electronic resources, operating revenues and expenditures, and number of service outlets.

How Portable Benefits Can Address the Needs of Artists

Creatives Rebuild New York, Artists at Work, and Bramble & Bird recently released Snapshot of Portable Benefits for Artists & Creative Workers, 2025. The report presents insights from interviews and focus groups as well as a literature review exploring portable benefits and other worker protection solutions tailored to the unique needs of artists and creative workers. Unlike traditional worker benefits, portable benefits are benefits or nonwage compensation (such as health insurance, paid leave and retirement savings) that are attached to workers rather than employers. The authors note that as workers in the United States, especially artists, are increasingly in positions of precarious employment, there is a need to examine the ways different policy programs can help fill these gaps. The report details various portable benefits models and strategies, including ways of integrating portable benefits into existing safety-net policies. It concludes that as the economic needs of artists are not currently being met, high-quality, portable benefits may be one viable solution. Ultimately, more research, consultation, design and funding are needed to refine strategies and identify partners for implementation.