SMU DataArts

Excited to share that SMU DataArts is a proud research partner in the launch of DREAM (Data & Research on Equity in Art Museums) — a two-year pilot program stewarded by Museums Moving Forward. DREAM brings together researchers from MMF, Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums, Burns Halperin Report, and SMU DataArts to streamline data collection efforts for the art museum sector, with support from the Mellon Foundation.

This initiative reflects our shared commitment to data-driven decision-making and equity in the art museum field. We look forward to the insights this collaboration will surface for participating museums and the broader sector through 2027.

Learn more 🔗

PRESS RELEASE - ‘DREAM’ Pilot Launches in Partnership with Six Major US Art Museums – Museums Moving Forward PRESS RELEASE - ‘DREAM’ Pilot Launches in Partnership with Six Major US Art Museums ‘DREAM’ Pilot Launches in Partnership with Six Major US Art Museums March 31, 2026 New York, NY—DREAM (Data & Research on Equity in Art Museums) is launching a two-year pilot program in partnership with Dia...

Sending our sincere gratitude to our amazing community ❤️

SMU DataArts won the Research Funds Power Hour for the third consecutive year—receiving the highest number of individual donations among all SMU research centers and earning a $2,500 bonus award from the University.

Your support helps DataArts continue its work to provide data-driven insights for the agencies, funders, and organizations shaping arts and culture across the country. It means so much to have a community that shows up, year after year.

See the results from SMU Giving Day 2026 🔗 https://givingday.smu.edu/pages/giving-day-2026-home-page

Help SMU DataArts continue its work tracking the health of the arts and cultural sector, informing policy, funding decisions, and advocacy that communities across the country depend on with a gift of just $10 or more.

Wednesday, March 11 marks the eleventh annual Giving Day hosted by Southern Methodist University. Starting at midnight, this 24-hour initiative rallies the Mustang community to support scholarships, campus activities, and research.

Maximize your impact by making your donation between the hours of 9 AM to 11 AM CT / 10 AM to 12 PM ET! the research center to receive the highest number of donations during this Power Hour challenge will earn a $2,500 bonus awarded by the University!

Will you join us? 🐎

Details at the link 🔗 https://givingday.smu.edu/pages/giving-day-2026-home-page

Four exceptional arts leaders have joined SMU DataArts' Advisory Board, and like us, they're all a little bit obsessed with data and how it can fuel the arts.

Welcome Jessica Feldman, Senior Research Associate for Arts and Culture at the Mellon Foundation. Jessica is a social scientist with a career advising leaders across the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors through the design and analysis of applied research.

Jeremy Johnson, President and CEO of Assembly for the Arts in Cleveland. Jeremy has more than three decades of experience working at the intersection of government, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership in Ohio and New Jersey.

Christina You-sun Park, Executive Director of Arizona Commission on the Arts. Christina is a seasoned leader in building interdisciplinary collaborations and strengthening partnerships with local communities, national organizations, and government agencies.

And David Andersson of Bloomberg Associates. David's work with municipal arts agencies helps strengthen their cities’ cultural sectors and promote vibrant art experiences for all of their residents and visitors.

Building a national information resource for the cultural sector takes teamwork. Our advisory board includes funders, policymakers, arts leaders, and supporters. Learn more about who we are 🔗 https://culturaldata.org/about/

Tune in for a live recording of Upstream, a new webinar series hosted by Houston Endowment. In this episode, data experts and leaders of Houston's artist community will discuss an innovative approach to better understanding how artists live and work in the city. And how funders, policymakers, and institutions can use these insights to provide more effective support, particularly for individual artists.

Guest speakers include SMU DataArts' Executive Director, Jen Benoit-Bryan, Ph.D., Angela Carranza, Executive Director of Fresh Arts, and Eepi Chaad, Program Manager for Mid-America Arts Alliance.

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Monday, February 23, 2026
Noon - 1:00 PM CST

Register for free 🔗 https://houstonendowment.org/upstream