The Best States for the Arts

With approximately 4.9 million Americans employed in the arts, and art being beneficial for mental health and education, the non-profit organization SmileHub today released new reports on the Best Charities for the Arts and the Best States for the Arts in 2024.

In order to highlight the states that provide the best environment for the arts and the ones that need to improve the most, SmileHub compared each of the 50 states based on 16 key metrics. The data set ranges from the share of residents who attend art events to the average salary of fine artists to the quality of graduate art programs.

Key Stats

• New York has the most art charities per capita, 14.7 times higher than in New Hampshire, which has the fewest.
• Nevada has the highest average salary for fine artists adjusted for the cost of living, 2 times higher than in Hawaii, which has the lowest.
• Wyoming has the most federal arts funding per capita, 14.4 times more than in Florida, which has the least.

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Please see below commentary from our Business Manager, Luke Powers:
“Our comprehensive analysis shares significant insights into how different states support the arts, from access and economic conditions to education. New York stands out as the most art-friendly state, leading in key areas such as economic support for artists, and arts education. States like Washington, Oregon, and California also perform exceptionally well, highlighting the importance of robust policies, funding, and community engagement in fostering a vibrant arts environment.

Our methodology involved evaluating each state across three main dimensions: Access to Art, Artists Economy & Personal Finances, and Arts Education. Metrics such as the number of fine art museums and galleries per capita, the average salary for fine artists, and the quality of graduate art programs were used to calculate a comprehensive score for each state. These metrics provided a detailed picture of how well states support the arts and their artists.

However, our study also identifies states that have considerable room for improvement, such as Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. These states can enhance their arts environment by increasing public funding, expanding arts education programs, and supporting the financial stability of artists. By investing in these areas, they can unlock the numerous social, economic, and cultural benefits that a thriving arts sector brings.”