Cities That Boosted Arts Funding During Covid Saw Faster Sector Rebound, SMU DataArts Study Finds

NewsData.io · United States · Jul 30, 2026

A new DataArts/SMU report examining ten U.S. cities from 2019–2024 finds that municipal arts funding levels strongly correlate with post-pandemic recovery outcomes for cultural organizations. Cities like Phoenix, Atlanta, and Sacramento that increased local arts agency support saw stronger revenue recovery and audience growth, while Philadelphia — which cut arts funding per capita by 90% — experienced a 47% drop in full-time staffing and a 26% revenue decline at arts organizations. The findings underscore how public funding can serve as a leveraging signal that unlocks private and corporate contributions. For staffing agencies serving the nonprofit and arts sectors, the data points to sharply divergent hiring climates across U.S. markets.