What the Numbers Are Telling Us: Fiscal Trends in the Performing Arts Sector

Monday, October 15, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Organized by Teresa Eyring, executive director, Theatre Communications Group.

Presented by Amy Fitterer, executive director, Dance/USA; Sunil Iyengar, director of research and analysis, National Endowment for the Arts; Jesse Rosen, CEO, League of American Orchestras.

Performing arts organizations are using data and new analytical tools to reimagine their strategic approaches to capacity building and fiscal stability. This session will provide participants with data on fiscal trends gleaned from major national performing arts research studies, including Theatre Communications Group's Theatre Facts 2011 and Fiscal Pulse 2012, League of American Orchestra's Strategy Money Alignment Readiness Tool (SMART) and Orchestra Statistical Reports, and Dance/USA's Annual Data Collection. The presentation will focus on trends in areas such as ticket sales and attendance, earned and contributed income, endowments, and working capital. In addition, the panel will discuss how current fiscal trends affect artistic programming, human capital, and the capacity to innovate. Attendees will leave this session with a better understanding of some of the operating and capital structures that are common in the performing arts sector, along with certain key challenges the disciplines are facing and addressing.