Upon embarking on the program evaluation initiative, the AFA commissioned R.A. Malatest & Associates (Edmonton) to complete foundational research on the current trends in the arts and arts funding from a national and international perspective. This research provides an initial way to begin to think about the various issues, factors and perspectives that will need to be considered throughout the evaluation initiative.
The report is presented in two parts. The first part is a review of relevant literature related to trends in the arts and arts funding gathered from national and international sources. The second part provides a thematic analysis of a series of 19 in-depth interviews completed with arts and cultural leaders worldwide. These leaders in their field were asked to comment on their current perspective of what is going on related to arts support and to identify key factors that need to be considered in discussing arts funding.
Combined these reports provide a wealth of information to debate how to effectively support the arts in Alberta. The AFA is pleased to provide a summary of key highlights from the reports, as well as the reports in their entirety (see below).
Key highlights include:
- Arts sectors across the world (including Alberta) are undergoing rapid and irreversible change, and the environment in which arts entities operate is becoming increasingly complex.
- Competition for funding from all sources and audiences is increasing among not-for-profit arts organizations - and between the not-for-profit and commercial sectors.
- Arts funding needs to address increasing diversity within populations that are demanding new forms of art-making and introducing new cultural tastes.
- Issues such as fragmented leisure time which is having an impact on arts participation, enhanced technology and globalization have become focal in determining how best to support the arts.
- Arts funding agencies are experiencing higher standards for accountability related to the use of public monies - this is generally translating into increased reporting requirements for grant recipients which is putting pressure on artists and arts organizations to "make their case."
- The arts themselves are continually evolving and being re-defined - borders between disciplines are blurring (and in some cases disappearing) as new hybrid art forms, multi and interdisciplinary work grow.