October 24, 2026
This week ADC Consulting was at the 2026 Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) Annual Conference, presenting a session titled The Invisible Infrastructure of the Arts: What Comes Next? As we connected with new and familiar faces about our research project, the resounding message we heard was, “Don't close the survey yet! We need more time!”
So we listened! You now have until DECEMBER 18 to complete the 2026 Arts Service Organization Survey.
If you've already completed your survey, please help us by sharing it personally with people you know. Small, volunteer-led organizations are especially underrepresented in responses so far. The survey only takes 20 minutes, get counted!
Image Description: From left to right, Alejandra Duque Cifuentes and Carrie Blake smile for the
camera. Alejandra is a white Latina woman, with long black hair. She wears a black shirt and black
jacket. Carrie is a white woman, with long blonde hair, bangs and clear glasses. She wears a beige
jacket.
More about our GIA session
Titled The Invisible Infrastructure of the Arts: What Comes Next?, it featured an overview of the Understanding Arts Service Organizations in a Changing Arts Ecosystem research, its different phases, and the emerging findings from Phase 2: National Scan via the 2026 National Arts Service Organizations Survey.
The session concluded with a panel discussion exploring the inherited structures of the field, alternative models of support, and opportunities for collective action. Together, we considered what it will take to build a more durable, democratic, and responsive cultural ecosystem.
Image Description: From left to right, Alexander Acosta, Urooj Shakeel, Carrie Blake, Sage
Crump, and Alejandra Duque Cifuentes stand together on a stage. Alexander is a tall bald
man with a beard wearing a gray blazer, light shirt, jeans, and white sneakers. Urooj is a
woman with long dark hair wearing a pink top and brown trousers. Carrie is a blonde woman
with glasses wearing a light-colored top and dark trousers. Sage is a black woman with short
gray hair wearing glasses and a dark outfit and a long beige scarf. Alejandra is a white latina
woman with long dark hair wearing a dark blazer and trousers. All five are smiling at the
camera. A table with laptops and presentation materials sits behind them.
If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your input will help us better understand the needs of arts service organizations and identify opportunities to strengthen the infrastructure that supports the arts and culture field. You now have until December 18th!
SURVEY TAKING PARTY: OCTOBER 28
We will be hosting a Survey Taking Party on October 28. If you need support completing the survey in real time, this is your opportunity! Survey Taking Parties are 60-minute virtual Zoom sessions designed as informal, drop-in office hours.
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 3:00 – 4:00pm EST
Registration: Free & required.
SURVEY PROGRESS
Image Description: A map of the United States titled “Survey Respondents by State and Territory” with states shaded in light green to indicate survey completion progress.
We've received survey responses from 40 states! Help us reach our goal and make sure your organization gets counted.
To check out more live data updates, including the geographic location, budget size, and artistic discipline of survey respondents to date, visit the 2026 National ASO Survey Response page.
NEED HELP TAKING THE SURVEY?
There are several ways you can get help:
Join our last Survey Taking Party on October 28!
Download a Google Doc version of the survey to prepare your answers and collaborate with your colleagues before submitting.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions.
Email us your questions at research@consultingadc.com. A member of the ADC Consulting team will get back to you within approximately 2–3 business days.
You can also visit the ASO Research Page to learn more about the multi-phase research study this survey is a part of.
REMEMBER: The survey will collect responses through November 9, 2026 (one per organization).
