Cultural institutions and opportunities to participate in arts and culture can provide entertainment and personal fulfillment. They can also enhance civic pride and act as an indicator of a healthy economy. NORC studies the most significant issues affecting arts and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our varied projects include Cultural Infrastructure in the United States, a comprehensive analysis of museums, theaters, and performing arts centers built between 1994 and 2008; the California Survey of Arts & Cultural Participation, which examined the ways that people participate in a range of arts activities and how they express themselves through artistic means; and the Teaching Artists Research Project, which explored the role of teaching artists in arts education. We’ve studied how engaging people with artistic production and creative expression can be a means to improve their employability and economic opportunities. We have also explored the practices and needs of Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Native Alaskan creators in the performing arts.