The N.E.A. Offers a 21st-Century Profile - Ars Gratia Artis and for the U.S. Economy, Too - NYTimes.com

The N.E.A. Offers a 21st-Century Profile - Ars Gratia Artis and for the U.S. Economy, Too - NYTimes.com: "“It’s easy to talk about artists in lofty and spiritual terms,” said Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Without denying the higher purposes of the artistic vocation, it’s also important to remember that artists play an important role in America’s cultural vitality and economic prosperity. Artists have immense financial and social impact as well as cultural impact.”

Drawing from the census, the endowment has compiled what it bills as the first nationwide profile of professional artists in the 21st century."