The Top 40 Most Arts-Vibrant Communities in
America (2024)
Missoula, MT Ranked 7th Most Arts-Vibrant Medium-sized Community in Annual National
Analysis.
SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, is pleased to provide the 2024 Arts Vibrancy Index Report. Like its four predecessors, this year’s edition draws upon a set of data-informed indices to identify arts-vibrant communities across the U.S.
Missoula, MT ranks 7th on the list of the most arts-vibrant medium-sized communities in the
nation, according to national arts research center SMU DataArts.
Now in their ninth year, the annual rankings are based upon the Arts Vibrancy Index (AVI),
which draws upon 13 unique measurements covering aspects of supply, demand, and public
support for arts and culture, adjusted for cost of living and population density. Missoula, MT
Scores among the top 1% on measures related to state arts grants and the top 2% on measures.
SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research recognizes and celebrates the Top 40 communities according to our 2024 Arts Vibrancy Index. Shifts in arts participation, rising costs, the winding down of unprecedented levels of relief funding, as well as long-standing inequities in access, funding, and employment continue to challenge arts communities—yet the undeniable richness that arts and culture bring to society endures.
When assessing a community’s vibrancy, we take a data-driven approach drawing on 13 unique measures which cover aspects of supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture, which are adjusted for cost of living and population.
In these rankings, we highlight and celebrate communities big and smal that have cultivated higher levels of arts activity per person living in the community. Each of these communities sustain their vibrancy through various resources, including public support and engagement, local arts agencies, convention and visitor bureaus, as well as other institutions committed to promoting cultural enrichment and fostering creative expression to ensure that the arts remain an integral part of community life. In addition to the top arts-vibrant communities listed in this report, arts vibrancy scores for every county in the United States can be explored in an interactive map to explore how arts vibrancy differs across the nation.
While our approach to assessing Arts Vibrancy is robust, we readily acknowledge that there are other characteristics of vibrancy that are not possible to capture and assess evenly on a national scale for every community, especially tribal communities. We are continually evaluating new datasets for potential inclusion in our calculations. For now, we base metrics in this report on the most reliable and geographically inclusive sources of data available.
Arts and cultural organizations are engines of community development and community cohesion. The arts provide culturally infused experiences that are consumed in an open, social setting, which is ideal for engendering social integration in a diverse marketplace. The current climate of political, sociocultural, and economic polarization makes it more important than ever to recognize and celebrate the essential role that arts and culture play in making communities throughout the country not only more vibrant places to live and visit but also more unified, safe, and tolerant.
Top 40 Arts-Vibrant Communities, by Location and Size
Top 10 Arts-Vibrant Medium Communities
Link to Interactive Arts Vibrancy Map HERE
Metropolitan Areas or Metro Divisions with population 100,000 to 1,000,000
| Ranking | Top 10 Medium-sized Communities | Region | Population | Cost of Living Index[?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsfield, MA | Northeast | 127,859 | 117 |
| 2 | Santa Fe, NM | West | 155,664 | 95 |
| 3 | Ithaca, NY | Northeast | 104,777 | 113 |
| 4 | San Rafael, CA* | West | 256,018 | 169 |
| 5 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | Midwest | 261,173 | 91 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | West | 327,468 | 110 |
| 7 | Missoula, MT | West | 121,041 | 99 |
| 8 | Canton-Massillon, OH | Midwest | 399,316 | 90 |
| 9 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | Northeast | 227,521 | 116 |
| 10 | Ann Arbor, MI | Midwest | 366,376 | 100 |
…from 12/12/2024 Press Release
“Missoula’s ranking as one of the most arts-vibrant communities in the country reflects the incredible creativity, passion, and dedication of our artists, cultural organizations, and community members,” said Heather Adams, Executive Director of Arts Missoula. “This recognition reinforces what we’ve long known—that the arts are at the heart of Missoula’s identity, driving our economy, enhancing quality of life, and bringing people together in meaningful ways.
From the Zootown Arts Community Center (ZACC) to Radius Gallery and from the Montana Repertory Theatre to Westside Theatre and Bare Bait Dance, Missoula offers an array of arts experiences for youngers and elders alike that are both locally cherished and nationally recognized. We benefit from world class museums like Missoula Art Museum and the recently built Montana Museum of Art and Culture and our globally recognized Missoula Public Library. There’s exciting (and long overdue) movement in supporting our Indigenous artists through Indigenous Made Montana and the Jeanette Rankin Peace Center Indigenous Arts and Education Program. The city’s strengths lie in its blend of established institutions like the University of Montana’s School of Theatre and Dance, The Roxy and MCT (Missoula Children’s Theatre), and its grassroots organizations like the Clay Studio, Missoula Makers Collective, Missoula Writing Collaborative and Giving Art to Missoula, as well as signature events like the Missoula on Main, MDA’s River City Roots Festival, International Wildlife and Big Sky Documentary Film Festivals, Missoula PRIDE and First Friday Gallery Nights, which consistently draw visitors and locals alike. And let’s not forget the smaller spaces and studios like Free Cycles, Suite 2, Von Common and Gallery 709. This dynamic arts ecosystem, paired with steadfast community support, is what keeps Missoula an artistically rich beacon for arts and culture in the Northwest.”