Artists and Other Cultural Workers
Domain A: Artists and Other Cultural Workers provides a comprehensive description of artists and individuals whose employment involves supporting artists or the arts industry (the latter referred to as other cultural workers). Indicators in this domain will explore artists and other cultural workers by demographic characteristics and background, the types of art they create, and their means of employment and income.
For more information on Domain A, view our infographic and access short papers and data for each indicator below. New indicators and updated statistics for current indicators will be released as data become available.
Explore the Indicators
This indicator highlights the number of artists, by occupation, demographic group, and other individual characteristics. (See A.1 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in July.
A.2 Who are other cultural workers?
This indicator highlights the number of other cultural workers, by occupation, demographic group, and other relevant individual characteristics. (See A.2 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in July.
A.3 Where are artists and other cultural workers located in the United States?
This indicator highlights the number of artists and other cultural workers, by occupation and geographic location. (See A.3 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in July.
A.4 What do artists and other cultural workers study as undergraduates?
This indicator reports what artists and other cultural workers study for their bachelor’s degrees and the occupations of those with bachelor’s degrees in visual and performing arts. (See A.4 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in September.
A.5 What is the labor market status of artists and other cultural workers?
This indicator explores employment and unemployment rates among artists and other cultural workers, comparing them with the national labor force, and examines employment characteristics such as hours worked, multiple job holdings, and reasons for part-time work. (See A.5 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in October.
A.6 Who are the arts managers?
This indicator presents demographic characteristics of managers in selected arts-related industries. (See A.6 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in September.
A.7 What are the earnings for artists and other cultural workers?
This indicator highlights earnings of artists and other cultural workers, supplemented with analysis of their household income, supplemented with analysis of their household income. (See A.7 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in July.
A.8 What are labor market outcomes for young artists and other cultural workers?
This indicator highlights labor force status and earnings information for young artists and other cultural workers, supplemented with analysis of their household income. (See A.8 Tables for related data). This indicator is annually updated in September.
Additional Resources
- Artists and Other Cultural Workers: A Statistical Portrait: This report analyzes six federal datasets—but predominantly the American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey—to capture a statistical profile of 11 artist occupations and several types of cultural workers who are non-artists.
- Arts Data Profile tool: Artists and Other Cultural Workers: A Statistical Portrait (2012-2016)
- Artists and Art Workers in the United States: Findings from the American Community Survey (2005-2009) and the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2010)
- Arts Data Profile tool: Equal Opportunity Data Mining: National Statistics about Working Artists (2006-2010)
Datasets at the National Archive of Data on Arts & Culture (NADAC):
- American Community Survey: Public Use Microdata Sample: Artist Extract, 2018-2022 (ICPSR 39135)
- Portrait of New York State Artists Survey, 2022 (ICPSR 39025)
- Occupational Requirements Survey, United States (ICPSR 38867)
- Consumer Expenditure Survey Summary Tables (ICPSR 36170)
- Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), United States (ICPSR 38868)
- American Community Survey (ACS), 2015-2019 [United States]: Special Tabulations of Artists (ICPSR 38389)
- Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey, United States, 2015, 2018, 2022 (ICPSR 38196)