Death and Life: The Promise and Problems of the Arts in Rural Communities

Government programs supporting arts and culture operate in the belief that the arts should play a central role in community life. Geography presents one challenge to equitable arts access. The vulnerability of nonprofit arts and culture organizations (NPACOs) presents another. NPACOs must prevail over a variety of threats to their survival. How do the resources of NPACOs vary with geography? The author addresses this question quantitatively by analyzing the financial filings of 132,337 NPACOs in the United States for the years 2005 to 2014. The results underscore the preponderance of small organizations outside of mostly urban areas. Implications for arts managers, public administrators and funders are discussed.