JACKSON, Wyo. — The little town of Jackson has topped a newly announced national list of vibrant arts communities, demonstrating the supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture in the valley.
On Jan. 8, Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) DataArts released its annual list of the most arts-vibrant communities, expanding the list this year to 100, up from 40 in previous years. According to the new report, Jackson has appeared in the Arts Vibrancy Index rankings every year since it began in 2015. The Wyoming communities of Sheridan and Cheyenne also made the list, landing at No. 45 and No. 66, respectively.
Abbot Gilbane, formerly with Center for the Arts, is quoted in the report as saying the following: “Nonprofit arts organizations in Jackson rely on consistent support of donors in our community. We can’t support our programs and facility maintenance needs through ticket and art sales alone. It is so valuable for us to show our donors and patrons that our efforts to serve the arts by connecting our creative community are recognized nationally though the Arts Vibrancy Rankings.”
The Arts Vibrancy Index is a data-driven analysis of arts communities around the country. The index, now in its 10th year, measures “supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture at the community level, with adjustments for population and cost of living.”
Small communities that performed well in the rankings include Jackson as No. 1; Nantucket, Massachusetts, as No. 10; and Juneau, Alaska, as No. 13. According to the analysis, places like these “demonstrate that the most vibrant arts ecosystems aren’t determined by just population size — small communities with strong cultural infrastructure rank among the nation’s top communities.”
The index measures the arts in communities by tracking three areas: arts providers, arts dollars and government support. The arts are assessed, not as a tool for economic development or tourism, but as fundamental to the community. Researchers use a per-capita approach, which seeks to ensure that each community’s cultural energy is not guided by population. Lastly, the analysis is adjusted for cost of living.
“A dollar spent on arts in rural Montana stretches further than a dollar in Manhattan,” reads the report. “Our methodology accounts for these economic realities, ensuring that communities aren’t penalized — or artificially boosted — simply by geography.”
Arts and culture in Jackson continue to thrive. Learn more about the rankings here.
