FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2024
Contact: Johanna Tschebull
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant financial impact on dancemakers in the United States. Shifts in government assistance, audience behavior, inflation rates, employment, and philanthropic patterns introduced new obstacles and opportunities for the dance sector. Dance/USA, the national service organization for the dance ecosystem, has released a new research study, Dancing Through the Pandemic: Financial Changes in the U.S. Nonprofit Dance Ecosystem 2018–2022. Access the research study.
The research summarizes data from 708 nonprofit dance organizations from 2018-2022, examining the nonprofit dance community before the pandemic, at the height of the pandemic, and in the wake of the pandemic. In addition to examining the influence of COVID-19 and inflation on the data set, this study analyzes four separate budgetary sizes based on quartiles.
“It is challenging to find dance data that covers such an expansive representation of the dance ecosystem,” said Dance/USA Director of Research Sarah Morrison. “With a repeated sample size of 708, this comprehensive data set can empower organizations and dancemakers of all sizes to understand how they fit within the larger context of the sector and provide them with factual data to support plans specific to their unique goals.”
“This robust financial analysis unveils the tumultuous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dance organizations throughout the ecosystem, offering critical insights essential for organizational resilience,” said Dance/USA Executive Director Kellee Edusei.
Key findings from Dancing Through the Pandemic: Financial Changes in the U.S. Nonprofit Dance Ecosystem 2018–2022 include:
Overall, it appears that organizations became more conservative with their savings through FY22, waiting to see how the balance among program service revenue, government support, and individual contributions will weave together in the future.
About the Study
Dancing Through the Pandemic: Financial Changes in the U.S. Nonprofit Dance Ecosystem 2018–2022 was published by Dance/USA with research and analysis conducted by Dance/USA Director of Research Sarah Morrison. Learn more about Dance/USA Research and Fieldwide Surveys. Dance/USA’s research activities are generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
About Dance/USA
Propelled by our belief that dance can inspire a more just and humane world, Dance/USA will amplify the power of dance to inform and inspire a nation where creativity and the field thrive.
Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations. Dance/USA’s core programs are focused in the areas of engagement, advocacy, research, and preservation. Learn more about Dance/USA at danceusa.org
