Josh Trefethen Photography

National Endowment for the Arts Announces Highlights from 2008 Survey of Public Participation In The Arts

A recent study of Public Participation in the Arts by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) shows a steady decline in participation in the arts by the public.

While most of the information seems to be regarding performing arts, there is some information and data pertaining to visual arts as well. As I read at length the pamphlet of the study and the ‘data tables for researchers’ that the NEA makes available on their website, I was pleased to find that they do have data specific to art shows.

I found some interesting correlations and important economic indicators in the NEA study and drew some conclusions that I think are not favorable to art show photographers. Read on and let me know what you think.

Granted, the NEA does lump all shows together into one category - “Arts and Crafts Fair/Visual Arts Festival”, but there is data there…according to the NEA study, there is clearly a downward trend in attendance in this category - a 37% rate of decline in attendace as of 2008, since 1982.

Another interesting trend which is in the NEA study is that People are not only enjoying the arts less, they are actually creating less art as well. All categories of art creation declined, EXCEPT photography. Photography was the only category of art that actually increased, and they attribute that to greater access through digital media.

This obviously puts a squeeze on us photographers. We are part of a dwindling market, while our particular medium is actually growing. Economically, demand is on a downward trend, and supply is increasing. We all know what this means…the Market forces are conspiring to lower the value of photography - we have seen this in the penny stocks sites and in places like flickr, where so many talented photographers post full res images for anyone to download free… I think this is just more evidence lending weight to other discussions I have read and participated in recently about the sustainability of art shows as a profession.

Can art show photographers continue to make a living traveling the country (and for some of us the world) to make their art and sell it?

How does an art show photographer rise above the pack to survive and even thrive in this environment?