Artists and Art Materials Study

Artists & Art Materials 2012

Overview
The 2012 study will provide the results of surveys of more than 4,000 artists and 100 specialty art materials retailers in the USA and Canada. The Key Findings are in! Click here to download the presentation of the survey results at Art Materials World in Orlando, FL. Check back here this summer for the free executive summary, study-related business tools, and full report.

Artists & Art Materials USA 2009

Overview
The International Art Materials Trade Association (NAMTA) and American Artist magazine are pleased to sponsor this first-ever comprehensive look at U.S. artists and art materials businesses in the 21st century. The goal is to provide art materials businesses and the entire art community with the information they need to grow and prosper. The report consists of the following sections:

• Executive Summary (FREE)
• Active Artists
• Art Materials Retailers
• Art Materials Suppliers
• Appendix B: Artist Materials Wish List

Historically the art materials industry has focused on traditional art materials product categories, but artists now spend only half their art-related budget on these; the other half is spent on classes and workshops, books and magazines, framing, and non-traditional materials. This report forecasts a growing future for art materials businesses that can provide the full range of what artists need alongside the quality, knowledge, and service these businesses are known for.

This report and the surveys it is based upon were independently produced by Hart Business Research, a leader in creative industries research.

Methodology
This report is based on spring 2009 surveys of 2,714 active artists, 141 specialty art materials retailers, and 78 art materials suppliers, as well as analysis of government data and numerous industry interviews.

Description of Report Sections

Executive Summary
Read this first and keep it on your desk for reference. The summary provides quick facts about industry and market size, key findings, retailer and supplier business benchmarks, artist spending and projects, and suggestions for business growth.

Active Artists
The artist section provides an in-depth profile of active artists, with most data broken down by professional artists, students, and active recreational artists. Data includes number of active artists, spending, growth areas, feedback for retailers, types and numbers of artworks created, materials used, materials of increasing interest, proficiency, brand loyalty, motivations, art-related activities, learning, use of the Internet and computers for art, importance of elementary school art teachers, artists’ other creative activities, demographics, and comparisons with government data and past reports.

Art Materials Retailers
The retailer section provides comprehensive data on art materials retailers, both storefronts and online. Data includes retail market size, number of retailers, sales per retailer, growth, sales and growth by product category, profitability, staff numbers and benefits, inventory, sales floor size, margins, discounting, use of loans, marketing best practices, Web site best practices, business management best practices, challenges, types of customers and growth areas, number of suppliers, purchasing from distributors versus suppliers, ordering methods, retailer suggestions for suppliers and sales reps, and suggestions for retailer growth.

Art Materials Suppliers
This section provides comprehensive data on art materials suppliers, including number of suppliers by type, sales per supplier, sales by product category and customer type, growth areas, number and types of customers, supplier suggestions for retailers, manufacturing practices, ordering technology, discounting, sales incentives, use of sales representatives and catalogs, profitability, business challenges, best practices, and suggestions for supplier growth.

Appendix B: Artist Materials Wish List
These lists are verbatim responses to the 2009 artist survey question #27, “Is there a category of art materials you wish were better? (Please describe any improvements or changes you’d like to see.)” Suppliers should review this list for possible product ideas and improvements.