The 4A Arts logo with the graphic logo and the worded logo that reads 4A Arts American Alliance of Artists and Audiences.

We believe that arts and culture are basic human rights and powerful tools for building a whole and healthy society.

4A Arts will work to democratize, catalyze, and prioritize arts and culture in America.

Democratize

Advance knowledge about the role of arts and culture in American society and remove barriers to arts and culture participation.

Catalyze

Ignite citizen action to mobilize around and engage with arts and culture.

Prioritize

Champion greater investment in the creative economy at all levels of government.

Be in the Know

Help US Grow

Why 4A Arts?

96% OF AMERICANS SAY THEY ARE GREATLY INSPIRED AND MOVED BY ART, BUT ONLY 27% SAY THAT ARTISTS CONTRIBUTE A LOT TO THE GOOD OF SOCIETY.

(Urban Institute)

POSITIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT THE ARTS ROSE BY OVER 20% AFTER THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC, WHEN SO MANY AMERICANS TURNED TO ONLINE CONTENT FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

(Culture Track, 2021)

THE AMERICAN CREATIVE ECONOMY EMPLOYED ALMOST 4.9 MILLION WORKERS IN 2021.

(National Assembly of State Arts Agencies)

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND RECREATION COMPRISED 1.7 MILLION AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESSES IN 2022, OVER 5% OF ALL SMALL BUSINESS. . .

(U.S. Small Business Administration)

THERE ARE NEARLY 3 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF ARTS SMALL BUSINESSES THAN IN MANUFACTURING, NEARLY 4 TIMES THE AMOUNT IN THE INFORMATION INDUSTRY, AND NEARLY 6 TIMES AS MANY SMALL BUSINESSES AS IN AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, FISHING AND HUNTING.

(U.S. Small Business Administration)

IN 2021, THE CREATIVE ECONOMY ADDED OVER $1 TRILLION IN VALUE TO THE AMERICAN GDP

(National Assembly of State Arts Agencies)

THE AMERICAN CREATIVE ECONOMY MAKES UP 4.4% OF THE ENTIRE AMERICAN GDP.

(National Assembly of State Arts Agencies)

THE AMERICAN CREATIVE ECONOMY CONTRIBUTES MORE TO OUR GDP THAN CONSTRUCTION OR TRANSPORTATION, AND ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH AS AGRICULTURE AND MINING COMBINED.

(National Assembly of State Arts Agencies)

2023 FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS COMPRISES $207 MILLION – A MERE 0.0001% OF THE ENTIRE FEDERAL BUDGET.

(4A Arts)

AND DESPITE AN IMMENSE ECONOMIC FOOTPRINT, LARGER THAN AGRICULTURE OR TRANSPORTATION, ARTS AND CULTURE HAS NO SEAT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CABINET. 

(4A Arts)

4a Arts Inspiration

BLOG

Articles from 4A Arts

 

PODCAST

Listen to exclusive content

 

RESEARCH

Findings from the field

 

Our Vision

4A Arts envisions a United States of America where:

    • The inalienable right to arts and culture is enshrined into federal law. 
    • Our artistic infrastructure is supported by robust and equitable public investment and arts and culture have a seat at the legislative table at the national, state, and local levels.
    • Artistic and cultural experiences are accessible and inviting to all Americans and considered indispensable elements of a whole life; vital components of an active, participatory citizenship; and essential pieces of America’s heritage and global identity.
    • The labor of all who create, maintain, and celebrate our cultural ecosystem is elevated to a position of high regard commensurate with the extraordinary contribution it makes to our country.
A Message from our founding director

Hi friends, fellow artists, and audience members. Welcome to 4A Arts.

Years ago at my 80th birthday, I floated an idea to my friends and colleagues who’d joined me to celebrate. Having made my career in the arts, I ardently believed that artists and audiences are the economic engine of small towns and big cities in all fifty states. But I’d consistently observed that public investment in the arts and culture was abysmally low compared to its myriad contributions to society, the economy, and everyday life.

So why, I wondered, isn’t there a dedicated, member-based movement working directly on behalf of artists and audiences to elevate the role and regard of the arts and culture in our country, and ensure they receive equitable public investment and representation at the state, local, and federal levels?

A few years later, at the age of 85, I started 4A Arts.

I’ve stepped away from directing 4A Arts, but remain as the chair of the Board because this movement is near and dear to my heart. And I’m excited to see where our team takes this vision.

I firmly believe that nothing spurs the American economy like creativity and nothing spurs American creativity like the arts. I hope you’ll join this movement and get involved. Nothing less than the soul of America is at stake.

Charlie Reinhart
Founding Director, 4A Arts
A Message from our Executive Director

I’m thrilled to welcome you to 4A Arts.

“Thrilled” might seem hyperbolic, but it’s no exaggeration.

I firmly believe that the 4As Art mission can help build a membership of millions that will help our country see its own humanity instead of its divisions.

Yes, I think 4As, along with the arts organizations with which we will work, is the key to saving our democracy, our economy, our society, and our planet.

In the midst of our modern-day noise, art helps us slow down, ground ourselves, listen, and reconnect.

And if we haven’t already made it clear, for 4As, art isn’t just about paintings and dance. It’s about quilters and potters and beaders and low-rider painters and interior designers and bartenders who go the extra mile with a flourished garnish.
Art is in all of us.
We are all artists.
And we are, of course, all audience members.

So welcome to 4A Arts. You play two roles – as artist and audience.

But your most important role is saving the soul of America.

Thank you for joining us.

Artfully Yours,

Gavin

Join Us

Join the movement to prioritize the arts and culture industry as highly as all other American industries.

Watch Us Grow
Help Us  Grow
Skip to content