General Arts Trends

Artistic expression is particularly important to teens and young adults, and many, if not all, also greatly enjoy technology. Media and arts programs are an ideal way to bring these two areas together. This mirrors a trend in the performing arts world in which media participation becomes more common (some fear to the eventual detriment of live performances). Part of this is related to the growing pervasiveness of media, another is enjoyment of media for its own sake (the "cool!" factor), and another factor is the way that media participation allows for more flexibility in time.

Technology has also erased barriers and perceived barriers to participation for people with disabilities and for those who, for example, can't draw free-hand but can use their visual creativity in creating computer graphics. Technology also makes possible "virtual artists communities" online-artists can share their work with others or even collaborate on works. The price of media participation has also remained relatively stable while ticket prices for live performances are typically increasing faster than inflation.

Book clubs are growing in scope as well as number. They give people a sense of connection with others who share their interests. There are also citywide shared reading initiatives in Minneapolis, Seattle, Chicago and Washington, D.C. There are no established figures on the number of book clubs or book club participants, but publishers are well aware of their growth and influence; many now offer book club discussion guides for their leading titles.

Foundation Support for the Arts Grows: Funding for the arts and culture by United States' foundations has more than doubled since 1996, according to the Foundation Center. According to the report, giving for arts and culture by all U.S. foundations climbed to an estimated $3.7 billion in 2000, up more than twofold from $1.8 billion in 1996. Adjusted for inflation, arts and culture giving grew an unprecedented 83 percent during this period, or 16.3 percent a year. In addition, growth in estimated arts giving by all U.S. foundations slightly outpaced increases in giving across all fields between 1996 and 2000.

Young people, as always, are redefining art, often to declarations from previous generations that "that's not art!" Scratching and other DJ performances, fan fiction and artistic blogging are all popular art forms among young adults. Comic books, too, in the form of graphic novels, are becoming more popular among the mainstream audience.