This request for full clearance will
enable the National Endowment for the Arts (“the Arts Endowment”)
to implement a web survey that will be used to support performance
reporting on the career benefits to U.S. artists who receive grants
to travel and perform abroad. This package requests the Office of
Management and Budget’s (OMB) full clearance for annual data
collection. The Arts Endowment’s Office of International Activities
provides opportunities for U.S. artists to participate in global
arts events by partnering with U.S. regional arts organization Mid
Atlantic Arts Foundation on the USArtists International (USAI)
program, as well as through several other partnerships and
activities. The USAI program is the largest of the Arts Endowment’s
efforts supporting artists’ travel and performances abroad and
therefore was selected for this work because it will provide the
largest sample of respondents, allowing the Arts Endowment to
measure the impacts an international exchange program can have on
artists’ careers. The Arts Endowment has conducted a pilot test of
the survey and will implement the annual, web-based census survey
of USAI grantees to provide the Arts Endowment with evidence of the
program’s benefits to artists’ professional careers. The web survey
data will support performance reporting on the Arts Endowment’s
fiscal year (FY) 2018‒2022 Strategic Plan, which seeks to gather
evidence to show that “Arts Endowment-supported international
exchanges have a demonstrable benefit on the careers of
participating American artists” (Performance Goal 3.3.3). The
annual data collection will provide evidence in response to the
associated performance indicator (3.3.3.1), “The percentage of
American artists that report benefits of their participation in
NEA-supported international exchanges.” The survey will focus on
benefits to artists’ professional opportunities, professional
networks, professional skills and learning, reputations, and
creativity. The survey is designed to take approximately 8 minutes
and asks 24 questions, with skip patterns.
Burden was increased in order
to add an expected annual full study data collection in addition to
the pilot study data collection that has already occurred.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.