1. Landscape

Take a closer look at the breadth, depth, and creativity that shape the Latinx/é arts and culture ecosystem. Learn more about these organizations' primary activities and creative services, artistic disciplines and practices, geographic locations, and organizational structures.

A woman with a ponytail, button-up shirt, and striped pants dances in front of a colorful backdrop
A man wearing a straw hat and furry pink and red outfit looks into the camera
Key Findings

Latinx/é arts and culture organizations most commonly identified their primary activity as Artistic Production (21%) or Performance/Presenting (21%), underscoring a strong emphasis on creating and showcasing creative work.

Key Findings

A substantial share of organizations also occupied field-support roles: Arts Services Organizations (17%) and Arts Training/Education/Professional Development (13%).

Key Findings

Mid-sized clusters of Latinx/é arts and culture organizations appear in Puerto Rico, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Smaller concentrations are spread across the Southwest in Arizona and Colorado.

Key Findings

Most Latinx/é arts and culture organizations (68%) reported operating as incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

Among those that reported not operating as a 501(c)(3), Visual Arts organizations were most likely (53.8%) to operate as limited liability companies (LLCs), while Performing Arts organizations were most likely (51.5%) to operate under fiscal sponsorship.

1.4 Structure and Fiscal Status

Incorporated Latinx/é arts and culture nonprofits tend to have larger staffs and budgets, especially among 501(c)(3)s . In contrast, fiscally sponsored, unincorporated, and alternative organizations are more likely to operate with very small teams and limited budgets.

Explore the Data

Highlight

Most Latinx/é arts and culture organizations (68%) reported operating as incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

Among those that reported not operating as a 501(c)(3), Visual Arts organizations were most likely (53.8%) to operate as limited liability companies (LLCs), while Performing Arts organizations were most likely (51.5%) to operate under fiscal sponsorship.

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Organizational Legal Structure

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Data Summary

  • Organizations representing Performing Arts disciplines rose to the top when looking at all legal structures.
  • On average, all organizations have 8.46 total staff, and most operated with an annual budget of Under $100,000 in 2024.

Successes

  • 5.5% organizations stated that they are fiscally sponsored, suggesting alternative operating structures.

Opportunities

  • Consider that certain artistic disciplines and organization types trend toward alternative operating structures: what applies to the majority of 501(c)(3)s may not apply or be accessible to these organizations.
  • Review eligibility requirements and award parameters to ensure that grants and other resources are accessible, inclusive, and equitable across arts sectors.

Artistic Disciplines

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Primary Activity

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Total Staff

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2024 Annual Budget

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Image Credits

  • Image #1: Ramon Ramos Alayo, 2024 NALAC Fund for the Arts Grantee
  • Image #2: Nuclear Meltdown, 2017 NALAC Fund for the Arts San Antonio Artist Grantee