The Arts and Media - Art Museums

The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) reported in its 2004 State of the Nation's Art Museums that attendance at American art museums was generally up in 2003. Forty-three percent of museum directors reported that their attendance had increased during the year, while 28% said it had not changed and 29% said it had decreased. Forty percent said they had increased educational programming, while 48% had made no changes and only 12% had decreased it. Most reported no change in artwork acquisitions, although 16% reported an increase and 8% reported a decline.

The AAMD also reported that funding was generally improving. Fifty-six percent of museum directors reported that individual giving was up from 2002 levels, while 39% said foundation support was up, and 35% indicated there had been no change. Corporate support was up for a third, unchanged for a third, and down for another third, while government support dropped for 46% and increased for only 19%, although this was an improvement when compared with the results for 2002.