The field is building this research together.
September 26, 2026
Research findings from the 2026 National Arts Service Organizations Survey are intended to create a public dataset about arts service organizations that is openly accessible and usable by anyone. Your participation is part of building that shared resource and strengthening the public data infrastructure for the arts. Knowledge shouldn't be gatekept. It should serve the people contributing to it.
Thus far our collective effort has been amplified by our survey partners, arts administrators and advocates, and folks like you who are eager to have a tool that can strengthen our field. THANK YOU for helping us tell that story and for your support spreading the word. We've been so excited to see organizations across the country contributing, because the more perspectives we include, the stronger the collective understanding becomes. Please take the survey, share it with an ASO you think needs to complete it, and help us shape this work in real time.
SURVEY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
This week we are spotlighting Creative West. Our Survey Partners are helping make this research a reality and ensuring that the 2026 National ASO Survey captures a richer, more representative picture of the sector.
Image Description: Creative West logo featuring a multicolored interlocking symbol beside the words “Creative West” in dark sans-serif type
Creative West is a U.S. Regional Arts Organization (USRAO) that supports creativity, builds equitable technology, funding, advocacy, and policy systems to generate creative capacity in the West and beyond. They support the work of 13 states in the western United States, in addition to three U.S. Pacific jurisdictions.
THE NEXT SURVEY TAKING PARTY: SEPTEMBER 30
This week, we're highlighting the vital work of arts service organizations across the West and the role they play in strengthening their communities and the broader arts ecosystem. Survey Taking Parties are 60-minute virtual Zoom sessions designed as informal, drop-in office hours. Organizations can complete their surveys in real time with live help from the ADC Consulting team.
If your organization is based in the West, we'd encourage you to attend this party as a way to connect with others near you.
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 3:00 – 4:00pm EST
Registration: Free & required.
ENTER THE RAFFLE
Submit your survey and you'll be automatically entered in the ASO Survey Raffle for a chance to win free consulting services! Score a bonus entry when you join a Survey Taking Party. The earlier your organization submits your survey, the more chances you'll have to win.
At our next party we’ll be raffling off:
Marketing & Branding Consultation with Susana Baker of Untangling Ideas
A 60-minute strategy call to cover questions about the organization's messaging, branding, marketing, website, or “whatever is keeping you up at night.”
Real Estate Consulting Call with Randi Berry of IndieSpace
A 60-minute advisory call regarding a real estate transition challenge or opportunity you or your organization may be facing. The session will include an intake and initial evaluation of your current situation and brainstorm options and next steps on your real estate path.
From left to right: 1. Headshot of Susana Baker, a white latina in her mid 30s. She smiles softly at the camera. She's wearing a dark green long sleeve blouse with textured sleeves and has her medium brown hair swept over one shoulder. 2. A headshot of Randi wearing a black shirt, black thick rimmed glasses and a colorful necklace. Randi is looking directly into the camera. The photo is warmly lit with a softly blurred indoor background, creating an informal and approachable portrait. Photo credit: Tim Fadek and Samuel Morales, Jr.
SURVEY PROGRESS
Image Description: This image illustrates a survey completion progress bar, including surveys completed to date relative to the response goal of 1,063 and study universe of 4,025. It also notes how many days are left in the open survey period, which ends October 9, 2026.
We've received survey responses from 35+ states and territories, but we still need to hear from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming! 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:
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 October 9, 2026 (one per organization).
