Learning and Wellness Through the ARTS Survey

Research to identify arts and arts education programs (music, drama, dance, visual arts, creative writing) outside of schools took place during the spring of 2008. The work, under the auspices of the Florida Department of State/Division of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, and Florida Alliance for Arts Education was completed by Mary Palmer & Associates, LLC. This research was done to implement the Learning and Wellness elements of Florida Arts Council Strategic Plan Culture Builds Florida (2004).

Two Learning and Wellness through the Arts surveys were developed and field-tested during the fall of 2007. One form of the survey was completed by those in the business, social services, criminal justice, healthcare, and local government sectors while the other was completed by arts organizations. The purpose of these surveys was to identify exemplary arts/arts education programs in business, social service agencies, juvenile justice, and healthcare. In addition, the surveys sought respondents’ perceptions of the impact of arts/arts education on a variety of topics.

The surveys were available online (at www.faae.org) from March 1 – May 1, 2008 through Survey Monkey. Eight statewide organizations distributed information about the survey to their members and/or constituencies in an effort to stimulate responses. These cooperating organizations were:

• Leadership Florida
• Florida Hospital Association
• Florida Chamber of Commerce
• Florida Leagues of Cities
• Florida Association of Counties
• United Way agencies
• Florida Association of Local Arts Agencies
• Florida Alliance for Arts Education

In addition, over 400 personal email invitations to complete the Survey were sent to individuals, agencies, businesses, etc. who were identified by members of Forum Local Host Committees and others.

Survey results were reported at each of the four ARTS in ACTION Forums. In addition, a complete report of the project, including the Survey results, was presented at the 2008 ACE Leadership Summit in Orlando on June 17.

Survey Results: Business, Social Services, Healthcare, Criminal Justice, and Local Government

One hundred fifty-six (156) people completed this Survey. Of these, 30% (47 respondents) were in the public sector; 20% (31 respondents) were in the private sector; and 50% (78 respondents) were in the nonprofit sector. Further analysis revealed that 19% (30 respondents) were in the business sector; 10% (16 respondents) represented governmental entities; 12% (19 respondents) represented social service agencies; 6% (10 respondents) were healthcare providers; 20% (31 respondents) were educational institutions; 4% (7 respondents) were arts organizations; and 3% (4 respondents) represented criminal justice agencies. Of the respondents, 25% (39 people) indicated that their organization/business offers the arts (music, drama/theatre, visual arts, or dance) or entertainment as its primary product or service.

The Survey queried respondents about their perception of the importance of the arts and/or arts education in a variety of applications. The results are presented in the Table 1 below.

Table 1: Quality of Life

The Survey asked about the utilization of arts and/or arts education programs for varied organizational purposes. The results are presented in Table 2 below.

Table 2: Business Development

Respondents were queried about ways in which they engage with the arts/arts education within their organizations/businesses. Results are presented in Table 3 below.

Table 3: Involvement with the arts/arts education

Respondents were invited to provide information about arts or arts education programs or services that they developed, participated in, offered, or funded. Seventy (70) respondents provided program or services information. These findings are reported under Florida Program Research, page .

Survey Results: Arts Organizations

One hundred eighteen (118) arts organizations responded to the Survey. Eighty (80) of these organizations indicated that they had developed, participated in, offered, or funded arts or arts education programs or services to/with business, social services, criminal justice or healthcare organizations/entities. These findings are reported under Florida Program Research, page .

Arts organizations responded to the same quality of life questions posed in the business et al survey. Results are reported in Table 4 below.

Table 4: Quality of Life – Arts Organizations

Conclusion:

Two hundred seventy-four (274) people and/or organizations/entities responded to these surveys. Program information was collected from a total of 150 respondents. In an ongoing effort to gather program information, a program sharing opportunity is available at www.faae.org. Businesses, organizations, and individuals can submit a program description for possible inclusion in the Website listing of non-school setting programs.

Data collected in this survey will be shared with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education for it to distribute to its network of arts and arts education entities throughout the state of Florida. It is hoped that these findings will inform Local ACE Coalitions and others working to build public awareness of the meaning and value of arts education in a variety of settings, both in-school and non-school.