A National Endowment for the Arts study found that of the people in the US who attended at least one “benchmark activity” in the arts (professional live theater, concerts of classical music or jazz, the ballet) 70% had a family income of more than $50,000 a year.
This trend continues when we look at participation in the arts. 39% of students who come from households with income greater than 100k receive music or arts education outside of school. 28% receive this education when their household income is in between 50k and 100k. Finally, only 14% of students who come from households with income less than 50k receive music or arts education outside of school.
Furthermore, 40% of students who live in households where at least one guardian graduated college, receive music or arts education outside of school. Of students who come from households where the highest education received was high school, only 8% get a music or arts education outside of school.
These barriers to access not only deny those with the greatest need for the many developmental benefits of participation in the arts, they also impact our artistic and cultural institutions for the long-term, limiting the creation of diverse and growing audiences and leadership. The Community Conservatory addresses economic barriers to access in the arts, providing a safe and supportive space for music making and positive youth development.