Connecticut Office of the Arts and Hartford Foundation-Sponsored Survey to Study Greater Hartford Arts Landscape

Greater Hartford possesses a wealth of arts and cultural offerings, which play a vital role in enhancing the economic and cultural vibrancy of the region. One of the significant challenges local arts and cultural organizations face is the reduction of public and private resources to support their work. In response to these challenges, the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving have sponsored a study of the arts landscape in Greater Hartford including a workforce survey of local organizations in the field. The results of this study will help the COA and the Hartford Foundation to better understand the arts ecology in a more holistic way as well as inform future arts funding strategies.

The two organizations have retained TDC and DataArts to develop and implement a comprehensive study that will provide demographic and funding data on arts and cultural organizations in the Hartford region. Results from the effort will assist both organizations in making better-informed investment decisions to support the arts in the capital region.

“COA is thrilled to be partnering with the HFPG on this initiative,” said Kristina Newman-Scott, Director of Culture for the State of Connecticut. “This is an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the needs of the people we serve. We hope this will be a model for future initiatives across the state”

“The study is looking at the impact of the arts beyond pure economic measures,” said Hartford Foundation Director of Research and Evaluation Scott Gaul. “What is the impact of the arts on the community? What do the arts mean for community development or to provide a pathway for learning? We also want to know more about the arts as a career – what kinds of jobs are available and who is working in them now.”

DataArts is offering a webinar to provide more information about how organizations will participate and administer the survey to their staff, board, independent contractors, and volunteers. The webinar will provide a general orientation on the Greater Hartford Arts Landscape Study and is scheduled for Thursday, August 9 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Participants are asked to register for the webinars in advance at https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=ypuqlodcuhr9&campaign=o6w9n6rq86j8

Once completed, the webinar will remain available as a recording on the DataArts’ platform.

TDC will launch the study with a historical scan of funding data by both organizations and will conduct individual interviews and organizations surveys. This survey will begin on August 21 and extend through October 2. COA and the Hartford Foundation anticipate sharing the findings in early 2019.