Art Can

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Art Can

Through Art Can, the Texas Cultural Trust conducts research and publishes data quantifying the economic and educational impact of the arts in Texas. Art Can analyzes employment and wages within the creative sector, along with tax revenue and tourism spending pertaining to arts and culture. Art Can also studies individual school districts, analyzing student access to arts education and its relation to academic outcome and overall success. The findings are unequivocal, highlighting the arts as vital to the development of young minds and a strong economy. In this way, Art Can serves as an invaluable resource for Texas parents, educators, the public, policymakers and private entities. The data culled informs all Texas Cultural Trust programs and spurs the development of new initiatives to increase public funding and support for arts and culture in the state.

Every two years, the Trust gathers leading researchers to quantify the social and economic value of the arts in our state. The 2023 State of the Arts Report continues that tradition, now augmented with research in the areas of Arts Education & Social and Emotional Learning and Arts in Health.

View the 2023 State of the Arts Report

The Arts Work for Texas

Art Can Improve Education

Research conducted by the Texas Cultural Trust shows that academic achievement, school attendance, and graduation rates are significantly higher when students are engaged in the arts.

Art Can Fuel The Economy

The arts strengthen the Texas economy by preparing students for creative careers, generating significant tax revenue, and boosting tourism.

Art Can Improve Health and Well-being

The arts and Creative Arts Therapies are demonstrating the ability to improve a patient’s overall health outcomes, treatment, and quality of life.

Art Can Map

The Art Can Map is a visualization of Texas arts education access data. Does your child’s school make the grade?

Arts Education Access Evaluation

The Arts Education Access Evaluation, developed by the Arts Education Task Force (AETF), evaluates equitable arts education access across the state. Campuses are encouraged to evaluate arts access on the elementary, middle school, and high school level.

Learn More Arts Education Rubric

Arts Education Access Evaluation

Elementary Arts Middle School Arts High School Arts

Arts Advocacy

While there are great areas of promise, there are also many areas of improvement in arts access. We invite you to join us in our efforts to ensure equitable access to the arts for all Texans. Encourage your school district and legislator to support access to the arts and arts education!

Take Action Arts Advocacy Toolkit Library

With your support, there’s nothing art can’t do.

2023 State of the Arts Report Sponsors

Jocelyn Straus, Chair Emeritus for the
Texas Medal of Arts Awards, 1931 – 2022