copyright © 1998-2008
Durham Arts Council, Inc.
120 Morris Street
Durham, NC 27701
919.560.ARTS

TODAY'S ARTS MARKET:
THE BIG PICTURE

By Louise Stevens, ArtsMarket, Inc.

5. Overwhelming Choice, Reduced Urgency

The same phenomenon that has hit retail has hit the arts. Shopping malls throughout the country are having difficulty filling their retail spaces in many markets. Occupied retail footage is down. At a certain point, markets become saturated with choice. The same seems to hold true in the arts. People have figured out they can go to Phantom this time or the next time it is in town. They can hear a good concert next month or next year. There will be another impressionist art exhibit. There is far more buying at the last minute, when it is convenient, rather than months in advance. Choice has replaced urgency, with a result of far less predictability for arts institutions.

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