Decades: What the Trends Tell Us
Culture
By Andrea WhitsettProject Manager, Arizona Indicators
Morrison Institute for Public Policy
Arizona State University
What were the most
interesting and important trends in Arizona art and culture that occurred in the previous decade? What is the significance of these trends and what insights
can we apply to the new decade?
One of the greatest threats to cultural vitality in Arizona is the staggering reduction of legislative appropriations for the arts.
Legislative appropriations provide core support for Arizona art organizations, enhancing quality of life for residents, supporting tourism,
attracting knowledge workers, and bolstering Arizona's creative economy. Unfortunately, the previous decade has been brutal for arts funding.
According to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Arizona’s ranking slipped from 28th in 2000 to 48th in 2009 for arts appropriations
per capita. In 2009, Arizona’s legislative appropriations for the arts totaled a meager 30 cents per person.
Given the scale of the current economic recession and the repercussions that will affect the state budget for years to come, I don’t see this trend correcting itself any time soon. Foundations and other funders will have to step up to help arts organizations stay afloat and voters will have to exert considerable pressure on state law makers in order to see legislative appropriations for the arts restored to a respectable level, or better yet, increased to a level that is competitive with other states.
About Decades
As we begin the second decade of the new millennium, top professionals, economists and experts in the field were asked a basic question: "What are the most important trends observed over the previous decade?" To get a glimpse of where we're going, this Arizona Indicators project looks forward by looking back.
