The National Endowment for the Arts, a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, released new findings on American participation in the arts through technology in a report titled Audience 2.0.  The interactive report explores who is and how are people participating in the arts through electronic media, including the Internet, television, radio, computers, and handheld devices.  In an introductory video message from NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman released with the report, he clarifies that contrary to the theory that technology is the nemesis to the arts, it is in fact enhancing the field and creating new audiences.

Consider these findings:

• For many Americans — primarily older Americans, lower income, and racial/ethnic minority groups — electronic media is the only way they participate in benchmark arts events.

• The 15.4 percent of U.S. adults who use media only to engage with the arts are equally likely to be urban or rural.

• Twenty-one percent (47 million) of all U.S. adults reported using the Internet to view music, theater, or dance performances in the last 12 months.  Twenty-four percent (55 million) obtained information about the arts online.

In conjunction with the release of the report, NEA also launched their official agency channels on YouTube and Facebook.   “We are faced with the Internet, social media, and other new technologies, and I believe the arts field must embrace them and integrate them into our work.” said Chairman Landesman in his video greeting.

Yet another compelling reason Americans need broadband access and adoption.

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