Local & Regional Findings

Our national findings are made possible by the data collected from the 373 diverse communities and regions across the country, including 130 cities, 126 counties, 78 multi-county or multi-city regions, 20 states/territories, and 18 cultural districts representing all 50 states and Puerto Rico. 

These diverse communities range in population from 4,000 to 4 million and represent rural, suburban, and urban areas. Our national findings are derived from the data from organizations and audiences in these communities. Researchers, with their local and statewide partners, collected surveys from 16,399 organizations and 224,677 attendees to provide a measure of total industry spending.

Americans for the Arts partnered with 297 local, regional, and statewide organizations that represent the 373 study regions. Forty-one research partners represented multiple communities such as both a city and a county. 
To participate in AEP6, the 297 local and statewide research partners agreed to four participation criteria.

• Identify and code the comprehensive universe of eligible arts and culture organizations located in their study region.
• Assist with the collection of detailed financial and attendance information from those organizations and review the information for accuracy.
• Collect audience-intercept surveys from attendees at a broad, representative sample of cultural events that take place in their study region.
• Pay a modest cost-sharing fee. (No community was refused participation for an inability to pay.) 

Each local, regional, and statewide research partner has received a detailed 60-page report and a two-page summary of the customized findings for their unique community. The partners will release their findings throughout the fall of 2023 and winter of 2024 according to their own promotional schedule. More information about the research partners can be found below. For information about the AEP6 results for a specific community, please use the map to identify and contact the appropriate research partner and obtain their AEP6 release schedule.