How are arts organizations using digital technologies?

The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (PIP) has released the results of a new survey, “Arts Organizations and Digital Technologies.” The survey was designed to understand how arts organizations are using the internet, social media and other digital technologies to connect with the public. The survey focused specifically on how arts organizations are navigating the changing technological landscape, how it has impacted their mission-driven work, and the challenges and opportunities.

Individuals from 3,644 arts organizations that had received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in the past five years were invited to take the survey; 1,244 completed at least part of the survey.

An excerpt from the summary:

“The internet and social media are integral to the arts in America. (The) survey finds that technology use permeates these organizations, their marketing and education efforts, and even their performance offerings. Moreover, many organizations are using the internet and social media to expand the number of online performances and exhibits, grow their audience, sell tickets, and raise funds online, while allowing patrons to share content, leave comments, and even post their own content on organizations’ sites.

The internet and digital technologies have also disrupted much of the traditional art world, according to these organizations. It has changed audience expectations, put more pressure on arts groups to participate actively in social media and, in some circumstances, undercut organizations’ missions and revenue streams. Even the notion of art is changing: 77% of respondents strongly agree or somewhat agree with the statement that digital technologies have ‘played a major role in broadening the boundaries of what is considered art.’

Tied to this embrace of technology is a widespread sense among arts group leaders that digital technologies are critical to the spread of the arts.”

Read or download the full report here.

Video: Jeffrey Brown of PBS Newshour’s Art Beat interviews Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, about the survey findings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgUlcgjloRw&feature=youtu.be

Via: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.  “Arts Organizations and Digital Technologies” by Kristin Thomson, Kristen Purcell and Lee Rainie. Jan. 4, 2013