Publications and Research

WESTAF is an experienced research organization that regularly initiates research projects to benefit the state arts agencies of the West as well as the broader arts community. Currently, WESTAF is engaged in two major research projects: The Creative Vitality™ Index (CVI™), a sophisticated creative economy research tool that measures the creative economic health of any geographic area in the U.S. and includes vetted data and analysis for both for-profit and non-profit creative industries; and the State Arts Education Assessment (SAEA), state-by-state study of the status of arts education in K-12 schools with sophisticated sampling methodology and contemporary survey technology.

WESTAF regularly convenes leaders in the arts and cultural policy field around significant issues affecting the work of arts administrators, artists, and other stakeholders. Remarks and presentations made during such convenings are normally recorded and transcribed into printed proceedings to benefit the field. Additionally, WESTAF often engages in research on behalf of its constituent states. The results of our research are usually presented in position papers, many of which are available to the general public upon request. Papers have been completed on such topics as: Economic arguments for the public funding of the arts, opportunities for collaboration among cultural agencies, background information concerning the development of cultural trust legislation, and an assessment of the effectiveness of legislative arts caucuses in advocating for the arts.

A list of all available proceedings, position papers, and economic impact studies can be found on the Publications page.