What is this?

CREATIVZ is a conversation for artists, friends and supporters of artists and anyone interested in how creativity thrives in the U.S. today.

This site was an active part of research exploring how artists in the United States live and work and what they need to sustain and strengthen their careers today. During the research phase, we hosted commissioned essays by a range of thinkers in the arts field and feedback gathered through social media using the hashtag #creativz. View the “best of” that conversation here. The goal was to include a broad range of people and perspectives in the process and hear from as many artists and artist support providers as possible.

The research was completed in September 2016. Now, the site hosts the full report and will feature essays by authors responding to key opportunities raised by the research. Check back or sign up for the mailing list for updates.

The research is a partnership of the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), with additional support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Surdna Foundation.

Background

This national research project builds on a 2003 report by the Urban Institute, Investing in Creativity: A Study of the Support Structure for U.S. Artists, which developed a conceptual framework for understanding the major domains of support that artists need: validation; demand/markets; material supports such as space, equipment, employment, and funding; training and professional development; community and networks; and access to information. Over the past 13 years this framework has informed the practice of funders, artist intermediary organizations and others who are interested in supporting artists.

The world has changed significantly since 2003 in ways that have important impacts on artists and artistic practice. New technology has changed how artistic work is created, accessed, and supported. Creativity is “in,” and is more highly valued by businesses, civic leaders and the general public. Demographic and generational shifts have led to new aesthetics and ways of working, and raised the urgency of cultural equity. With the “gig economy,” the way that artists have always worked has become more mainstream and magnified the need for new structures that support this way of working. This research provides a fresh understanding of the context in which artists work today, and what they need to thrive and contribute fully.

Who

CCI’s mission is to support individual artists, and the ensuing research report will generate understanding and a national dialogue on the kinds of support artists need, with CCI’s intention to catalyze support for artists.

For the NEA, this research is a component of their 50^th anniversary initiative, Creativity Connects, which shines a spotlight on how the arts contribute to the nation’s creative ecosystem and connect with other sectors that want to use creativity. Together, the NEA and CCI are working together to recognize and understand the kind of support that artists need today.

The views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, researchers, editors or any other agency, organization, employer or company.

The research team is managed by CCI and is comprised of:

Project Lead: Angie Kim, President and CEO, Center for Cultural Innovation
Project Lead / Project Manager: Marcy Hinand, M Hinand Consulting
Project Lead: Holly Sidford, Helicon Collaborative
Research Director: Alexis Frasz, Helicon Collaborative
Heather Peeler, Researcher
Marc Vogl, Vogl Consulting, Researcher