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 June 21, 2004 Arts paint a pretty picture Nonprofit leaders say the worst is over for their beleaguered sector. More than 60% of the city's cultural groups reported that their organizations' attendance and fund raising improved in the first half of the year, compared with the second half of 2003, according to a semiannual survey conducted by Crain's and consulting firm DHR International Inc. A full 62% said the entire industry was rebounding, a significant increase from the previous survey, in which only 27% believed the industry was improving. Arts institutions were even more optimistic about the future. Sixty-six percent said they expected attendance and sales to increase further during the second half of 2004 versus the first half. Only 11% expected a moderate decline. More than half, or 53%, of the groups surveyed, expected increases in fund-raising during the second half of the year as well. A new U.S. president could help them even more, arts executives say. A full 94% said a Democratic president would be more likely to support the arts. ##### |
