DATA BYTE:
Connecting the Dots 2024 Update
#YesThisIsAnArtsStory
July 9th, 2024
February 14th: NoHo Afterschool Performing Arts Classes Spring Session, February 15th: Princess Grace Awards Program, February 15th: Aimed Dance Emerging Choreographer Fellowship, February 19th: Bethany Arts Community Residency Emerging Artist Fellowship, February 19th: Dancers' Group, February 21st: Making It Public for Massachusetts Artists, February 28th: National Dance Project Travel Fund, March 1st: New England States Touring (NEST 1 and 2), March 1st: Aimed Dance Summer Fest: Internship & Workstudy Scholarships, March 1st: Brabson Family Foundation, March 3rd: Culver City Artist Laureate Program, March 10th: CALT Folk and Traditional Arts Experiences, March 17th: Residency at Sitka, March 19th: Walking Together, March 31st: SIA Foundation Grants, April 1st: Harkness Foundation for Dance Grant Proposal, April 1st: The Democracy Cycle, April 10th: Amplifi Napa Valley - Emerging Artists Grant, April 30th: South Arts: Professional Development & Artistic Planning Grants, April 30th: Oconee Performing Arts Society, May 1st: Small Plates Choreography Festival, July 31st: Community Engagement Artists and Creatives Grant, September 16th: The Awesome Foundation Micro Grants, September 30th: New England Presenter Travel Fund, September 30th: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Scholarship, September 30th: 24 Seven Dance Convention, September 30th: National Theater Project Presenter Travel Grant
×Connecting the Dots – #YesThisIsAnArtsStory is the third Data Byte focusing on mothers in the dance economy. Mainstream arts & dance organizations have ignored the impact of lack of child care resources and federally mandated parental leave on the ability of women to remain and thrive in the performing arts, especially dance, which demographically is at least 2/3rds female. In 2024 child care costs have reached a crisis level with families on average spending 24% of their household earnings v. what is considered an affordable 7% level. More than one-third (35%) of families are also using their savings to cover the cost of child care. Increasing child care costs and unavailable child care resources forces working mothers to partially or fully leave the workforce, which results in an increased gender wage gap for all women. By contrast business advocates like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Bloomberg, and McKinsey & Company have recognized the need for paid leave and better child care provisions, but arts organizations continue to show underwhelming support for working women in the arts, in great measure because the US, alone among developed countries, has no national safety net in place, placing the burden solely on individual companies and parents.
DDP is calling on all national arts organizations, but especially those like the NEA, AFTA and Dance/USA to prioritize parental leave and child care. Dance Data Project understands that working women and mothers are the pillars of the dance industry, and the prioritization of their needs is key to this industry’s success.