PHOENIX, AZ (July 29, 2009) — More than 60 percent of Arizona arts organizations responding to an Arizona Commission on the Arts survey in May report that the current economic environment coupled with losses of both public and private funding will force cutbacks in programs and exhibitions. Organizations operating with volunteers and without paid staff indicated the loss of public funding would have the most significant impact on arts education programs.The survey, the second in a series to monitor the impact of the economic downturn on Arizona arts organizations, was sent to more than 300 arts and cultural organizations, generating responses from 160. A third survey will be conducted in September.
The survey showed that nearly 60 percent of arts organizations have reduced their operating budget for the current year by up to 80 percent. Almost 40 percent of organizations with annual operating budgets of $250,000 or above have laid off staff in the last six months, half have enacted hiring freezes and 25 percent have implemented staff furloughs. In addition, 63 percent have reduced contract services ranging from artists for arts education programs to janitorial services to production management and design services.
“With nearly three-quarters of the organizations responding to the survey reporting a decrease in contributions and attendance, the situation does not bode well for the arts in Arizona,” said Robert Booker, executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. “Coupled with the dramatic reduction in legislative allocations to the Arts Commission and the loss of another four-plus million dollars from the statewide arts endowment fund, arts organizations statewide face significant uncertainty from both the programming and employment perspectives.”
The Arizona State Legislature voted to reduce funding to the Arizona Commission on the Arts by approximately 42 percent for fiscal year 2010, although the remaining appropriation of $965,100 is sufficient to match Arizona’ annual federal arts allotment from the National Endowment for the Arts. Arizona ArtShare, the statewide public/private arts endowment fund built over the course of twelve years, has been cut in half: from $20 million at full funding in fiscal year 2009 to $10 million at the beginning of fiscal year 2010.
For more information, related graphics, or a comprehensive summary of survey results, visit www.azarts.gov.
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