Research

Vital Signs

Metro Boston's Arts and Cultural Nonprofits

In 2007, TDC completed an in-depth study of the dense and growing nonprofit arts and culture sector in Greater Boston. Vital Signs, the culminating report, examines the health of metro Boston’s arts and culture sector from 1999 to 2004 using four interrelated categories of criteria, including the level of innovation in the marketplace, demand and support for arts and cultural experiences, existence of engaged audiences, and evidence of organizations that are right-sized. The report reveals that while the region enjoys a robust and innovative sector, there are warning signs that the level of support in the community and the financial health of arts and culture institutions are stressed. The report also highlights the need for additional data to evaluate the extent to which the region’s arts and culture institutions have succeeded in engaging audiences.