Welcome to IMPACT Arts!

IMPACT Arts is a storehouse of resources for those who make a difference through the arts and who want to understand what difference they’re making.

“Art transforms lives.”  “Our program builds community.”  “We seek social justice.” These are common aspirations that drive the work of artists, cultural organizations, and their partners. But how do you measure such broad visions of change? 

What is meant by “civic” or “social” impact and whose standards do you apply? What evidence do you look for, and how do you document and track change?

Whether you are an artist, arts organization leader, community partner, or funder, IMPACT Arts offers resources can help you better evaluate and report the social or civic outcomes of creative work that aims to make social change.

Still wondering if IMPACT Arts is the place for you?
Visit Who is IMPACT Arts For? and find some quick links to useful information.

home page collage of AD images

Explore these entry points to the site!

A Place to Start

Why measure social impact? Key concepts that relate to understanding types of social impact plus ways to get started in evaluating arts-based civic engagement work

 
 

Social Impact Indicators

Indicators, and data collection methods for the most common social and civic outcomes aspired to and achieved through arts and cultural work

Evaluation in Action

Resources
An annotated listing linked to selected evaluation resources, tools, and frameworks

Stories & Examples
Case studies, evaluation reports, and profiles that describe how real arts projects and programs have been evaluated and what they learned about impact

Theory
Papers, essays, and articles on topics related to documenting, measuring, and reporting impacts for civic engagement and social change through the arts

Acknowledgments