Pittsburgh Arts Organizations Join International Survey of Arts Audiences

Pittsburgh—November 12, 2020 – Pittsburgh joins a cohort of cities worldwide to administer a five-month-long COVID-19 survey to 23 local arts organizations and their audiences. The effort is led by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, which contracted WolfBrown to implement its COVID-19 Audience Outlook Monitor.

This longitudinal survey is designed specifically for arts and cultural organizations to glean information from their audiences on their opinions on reopening and reengaging with arts organizations during and after the coronavirus pandemic. WolfBrown is a research and consultant for nonprofits and public agencies with expertise in arts and cultural institutions.

"Pittsburgh's arts and cultural industry has experienced tremendous losses as a result of the pandemic," said Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. "Our goal is to provide participating organizations with a method to survey their audiences and make informed decisions regarding the health and safety measures, programming and other essential decisions that impact the future of their organizations."

Participating organizations were invited by the Arts Council to participate free-of-charge. Organizations sent the first survey to their audiences on September 1, 2020. The survey will continue monthly, except December, through February 2021.

The Arts Council has also shared key findings from the first two surveys with the arts community at large.

"Due to financial and survey limitations, we had to limit the number of participants in this study," explained Swain. "However, we're all struggling. The Arts Council is dedicated to sharing Audience Outlook Monitor data so our entire community can benefit from this rigorous research and make more informed decisions at their facilities."

Audience Outlook Monitor questions include topics on health and safety, comfort at live events, engagement in online and virtual programming, attitudes about future attendance and spending, communications preferences and more.

Pittsburgh-area organizations participating in the Audience Outlook Monitor survey include:

Pittsburgh area organizations participating in the Audience Outlook Monitor study

Attack Theatre
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Bricolage Production Company
Carnegie Museum of Art
Carnegie of Homestead's Music Hall
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
Contemporary Craft
Heinz History Center
Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
Mattress Factory
MCG Jazz
New Hazlett Theater
PearlArts Studios | STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos
Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media
Pittsburgh CLO
Pittsburgh Glass Center
Pittsburgh Opera
Pittsburgh Public Theater
Silver Eye Center for Photography
Texture Contemporary Ballet
The Frick Pittsburgh
Touchstone Center for Craft

This project is generously supported by the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Henry L. Hillman Foundation. Learn more about the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council's support of the region's arts and culture industry during the pandemicg.

###

About the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council champions the arts in Southwestern Pennsylvania, providing financial, professional, and political support for the arts and culture sector. Comprised of more than 600 diverse artists and nonprofit organizations, the Arts Council offers valuable research, legal and business consulting, networking and professional development opportunities so that artists, as well as arts leaders and organizations, can grow their skills and advance their practice. The Arts Council provides grants for artists and arts organizations, leads the region's arts advocacy at the local, state, and national level, and models best practices for accessibility and equity in the arts.

For interviews with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, image use requests, and any other media questions, please contact Manager of Communications Lisa Cunningham at 412-391-2060, ext. 227 or lcunningham@pittsburghartscouncil.org.