Americans Speak Out About the Arts
Adopted at the 87th Annual Meeting in 2019
WHEREAS, nearly three-quarters of the adult population (72 percent) attended an arts or cultural event during the previous year, such as the theater, museum, zoo, or a musical performance€"with nearly the same percentage enjoying the arts in "non-traditional" venues, such as a symphony in the park, a performance in an airport, or exhibitions in a hospital or shopping mall (70 percent); and
WHEREAS, 72 percent of Americans believe "the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity" and 73 percent agree that the arts "helps me understand other cultures better"; and
WHEREAS, 69 percent of Americans believe the arts "lift me up beyond everyday experiences," 73 percent feel the arts give them "pure pleasure to experience and participate in," and 81 percent say the arts are a "positive experience in a troubled world"; and
WHEREAS, 91 percent agree that the arts are part of a well-rounded K-12 education. Over 90 percent say students should receive an education in the arts in elementary school, middle school, and high school. 89 percent say the arts should also be taught outside of the classroom in the community; and
WHEREAS, the majority of Americans approve of arts funding by local government (60 percent), state government (58 percent), federal government (54 percent), and by the National Endowment for the Arts (64 percent).; and
WHEREAS, whether the public engages personally with the arts or not, 90 percent believe cultural facilities (theaters, museums, sculpture parks, neighborhood arts centers) improve quality of life, and 86 percent believe cultural facilities are important to local business and the economy; and
WHEREAS, 53 percent of Americans support increasing federal government spending on nonprofit arts organizations (vs. 22 percent against), and are twice as likely to vote for a candidate who increases federal arts spending from 45 cents to $1 per person than against one (37 percent vs. 18 percent); and
WHEREAS, despite many benefits that the arts bring to individuals and communities, just 50 percent of Americans believe that "everyone in their community has equal access to the arts,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors reaffirms the value of a public investment in the arts to improve each citizen's access, enrichment, and educational, economic, and societal impact of the arts on people's lives, schools, and communities.