1 Supporting Statement Part A-9.10.20 Full study

Supporting Statement for the Survey of American Artists
Participating in International Exchanges, Part A
Last updated: September 3, 2020

Table of Contents
A1. Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. ......................................... 4
A2. Purpose and use of the information.......................................................................................... 6
A3. Use of information technology and burden reduction. .......................................................... 9
A4. Efforts to identify duplication. ............................................................................................. 10
A5. Impacts on small businesses or other small entities. ........................................................... 10
A6. Consequences of collecting the information less frequently. .............................................. 11
A7. Special circumstances relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.6..................................... 11
A8. Comments in response to the Federal Register Notice and efforts to consult outside
Agency. ......................................................................................................................................... 11
A9. Explain any decisions to provide any payment or gift to respondents. ............................... 11
A10. Assurances of confidentiality provided to respondents. .................................................... 12
A11. Justification for any questions of a sensitive nature. ......................................................... 12
A12. Estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. ......................................... 12
A13. Estimates of other total annual cost burden. ...................................................................... 13
A14. Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal Government. .................................. 13
A15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported on the burden
worksheet. ..................................................................................................................................... 13
A16. Plans for tabulation, and publication and project time schedule. ...................................... 13
A17. Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date.................................................................. 15
A18. Exceptions to the certification statement identified in Item 19. ........................................ 15

Table of Attachments
Attachment A: Literature Scan and Focus Group Reports
Attachment B: Communication Materials
Attachment C: Web Survey Instrument
Attachment D: Cognitive Testing Report

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Abstract
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

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learning, reputations, and creativity. The survey is designed to take approximately 8 minutes and
asks 24 questions, with skip patterns.
Part A. Justification
A1. Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a
copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the
collection of information.
The planned data collection is a new information collection request, and the data to be
collected are not available elsewhere unless obtained through this information collection. A webbased survey of the USAI program grantees will be conducted once annually for spring 2021,
spring 2022, and spring 2023. Knowledge gained through this information collection will enable
the Arts Endowment to collect evidence on the impact of the USAI program on U.S. artists’
careers. Currently, the Arts Endowment does not collect any information from USAI grantees
related to the benefits of the program on their careers.
USAI is an international artist exchange program administered by the Mid Atlantic Arts
Foundation. The Arts Endowment is the lead funder of the program and supports the program
through a cooperative agreement with Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Additional supporting
partners include the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation which support artists from the Chicago area, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding
and the Howard Gilman Foundation which support New York City-based organizations. It is the
only national initiative in the United States solely devoted to supporting performances by
American artists at important international cultural festivals and arts marketplaces abroad and is
the largest of the Arts Endowment efforts supporting artists’ performances abroad. USAI
provides grants of up to $15,000 towards the support of artist fees, travel, accommodations, per

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diem, shipping, and visa preparation for U.S. artists. USAI provides grants to ensembles and
individual performers in dance, music, and theatre.
Based on the Arts Endowment’s FY 2018‒2022 Strategic Plan (approved by OMB), the
Arts Endowment decided to develop a survey of U.S. artists participating in international
exchange programs to support performance reporting that shows that “Arts Endowmentsupported international exchanges have a demonstrable benefit on the careers of participating
American artists” (performance goal 3.3.3) and “the percentage of American artists that report
benefits of their participation in Arts Endowment-supported international exchanges”
(performance indicator 3.3.3.1). The survey supports the agency’s evidence-building efforts, to
better understand outcomes associated with its investments. On page 26 of the Strategic Plan, the
study is described as a specific evidence-building initiative supporting Strategic Objective 3.3:
The NEA intends to examine the impacts of these international exchanges on the careers
of U.S. artists and on U.S. audiences who experience works originating from foreign
artists as part of its evidence-building efforts. As an initial step, the NEA is investigating
whether to plan a survey of U.S. artists participating in international exchanges with the
goal of developing a richer understanding of the program’s short- and longer-term
impacts on their careers.
The Arts Endowment’s Office of International Activities and Office of Research &
Analysis decided to survey artist grantees of the USAI program because it is the largest of the
Arts Endowment’s efforts to support artists’ travel and performances abroad and can provide the
largest sample of artists to survey. The questions in the survey will capture five constructs related
to artists’ careers, including professional opportunities, professional networks, professional skills
and learning, visibility as an artist, and creativity.

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This request is for a full clearance to conduct an annual survey of past USAI program
participants.
A2. Purpose and use of the information.
Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a
new collection, indicate how the agency has actually used the information received from the
current collection.
The Arts Endowment will conduct an annual census web survey of grantee artists who
participated in the USAI program in the year that occurred prior to the year the survey will be
implemented. USAI makes approximately 75 grants each year. The Arts Endowment will use the
information collected in the web survey to capture five constructs that relate to artists’ careers
and provide evidence of USAI’s benefits on the careers of participating American artists. The
Arts Endowment will report data from the survey in its Annual Performance Report as evidence
in support of performance goal 3.3.3 and, specifically, performance indicator 3.3.3.1. The data
will also inform internal discussions about potential program improvements and improve
accuracy of data that the agency reports annually to the State Department about artists traveling
overseas. Specifically, the survey data will support the following:
•

Question 1-2b will show geographic reach of the USAI program (i.e., countries
who have hosted a USAI-sponsored artist project) and will aid in the
identification of regions where additional outreach may be conducted. Results
may also improve accuracy of data required by the State Department.

•

Question 2-3 will help gauge effectiveness of agency communications with
embassies in the host country about the USAI program and the Arts Endowment’s
efforts to connect artists with embassy staff.

•

All survey data will be used to inform decision-making related to continuity or
expansion of funding for this program.
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The Arts Endowment will report the survey data in aggregate (i.e., using composite
scores) in the Annual Performance Report to respond to performance goal 3.3.3 and performance
indicator 3.3.3.1. The primary indicator reporting in the Annual Performance report will be the
number and percentage of artists that indicate career benefits resulted from the USAI program in
aggregate. In addition, the Arts Endowment may report several sub-indicators:
1. The estimated total and average number of secured bookings artists received as a
result of the USAI program (applies only to the professional opportunities construct).
2. The countries that artists received professional opportunities in as a result of the
USAI program (applies only to the professional opportunities construct).
3. The number and percentage of artists that indicate specific and unique career benefits
resulted from the USAI program. The Arts Endowment may report a score for each of
the following concepts, which are captured in the USAI web survey: professional
opportunities, professional networks, professional skills and learning, visibility as an
artist, creativity, and self-promotion and audience building.
Table 1 provides the specific data points the Arts Endowment will use to develop
composite scores for each construct in the USAI survey. The Arts Endowment will explore
reporting the composite scores in the Annual Performance Report.
Table 1. Composite Scores for each Construct in the USAI Survey
Construct of Artist
Careers
Career Benefits:
professional opportunities,
professional networks,
professional skills and
learning, visibility as an
artist, or creativity that
resulted from the USAI
program

Composite Scores1
•

Number/percentage of U.S. artists who, as a result of the
USAI program, reported ANY of the following:
o at least two secured bookings to perform abroad
o at least three maintained professional contacts
o collaboration with new international professional
contacts on a new performance or some other
finished product

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Professional
•
Opportunities: increased
number of opportunities
available to artists based on •
success
•
Professional Networks:
increased number of
professional
contacts/relationships an
artist has

•

Professional Skills and
Learning: new
professional skills an artist
learns or enhances

•

Visibility as an Artist:
development of a positive
artistic reputation; an artist
becomes more “known” in
the art world
Creativity: incorporation
of new ideas and
innovative ways of

•

•

o a better understanding of travel logistics and
regulations related to performing arts presentation
and touring in other countries
o learning new strategies for engaging international
audiences
o enhanced marketing skills including skills of selfpromotion on digital platforms, media relations, or
accessing other funding sources
o an improved artistic reputation in the international
arts community
o more followers on social media
o taking more risks in their artistic practice
o incorporating more diverse ideas into their artwork
Number/percentage of U.S. artists who reported at least two
secured bookings to perform abroad as a result of the USAI
program
Estimated total and average number of secured bookings to
perform abroad received by U.S. artists as a result of USAIsponsored experiences
The countries from which U.S. artists have secured bookings
to perform in as a result of a USAI-sponsored experience
Number/percentage of U.S. artists who, as a result of the
USAI program, reported ANY of the following:
o at least three maintained professional contacts
o collaboration with new international professional
contacts on a new performance or some other
finished product
Number/percentage of U.S. artists who, as a result of the
USAI program, reported ANY of the following:
o a better understanding of travel logistics and
regulations related to performing arts presentation
and touring in other countries
o learning new strategies for engaging international
audiences
o enhanced marketing skills, including skills of selfpromotion on digital platforms, media relations, or
accessing other funding sources
o incorporating more diverse ideas into their artwork
Number/percentage of U.S. artists who reported an improved
artistic reputation in the international arts community as a
result of the USAI program
Number/percentage of U.S. artists who, as a result of the
USAI program, reported ANY of the following:
o taking more risks in their artistic practice
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thinking into artistic
practice
Self-Promotion and
Audience Building: new
skills of self-promotion on
digital platforms or media
relations and increased
number of followers on
social media

o incorporating more diverse ideas into their artwork
•

Number/percentage of U.S. artists who, as a result of the
USAI program, reported ANY of the following:
o enhanced skills of self-promotion on digital platforms
or media relations
o more followers on social media

Respondents will be included in the composite score if they respond “yes” to yes/no survey items or
“strongly agree” or “agree” to Likert survey items.

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To determine the constructs for the survey and the survey items to include for each
construct, the Arts Endowment worked with a contractor to:
1. perform a focused literature scan of research and evaluation studies that assess the
impacts of artists’ participation in international festivals, exchange programs, and
other international experiences on artists’ careers;
2. conduct two 60-minute virtual focus groups with USAI artists (nine or fewer artists
per group, and each group receiving different questions) to gain a deeper
understanding of how the constructs identified in the literature scan specifically apply
to the USAI artists’ experiences;
3. conduct a pilot test of the survey; and
4. perform reliability analysis and exploratory factor analysis on data collected during
the survey pilot test.
We provide reports detailing the results of the literature scan, two focus groups in Attachment A.
A3. Use of information technology and burden reduction.
Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other
forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and
the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any
consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

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The Arts Endowment takes its responsibility to minimize burden on respondents very
seriously and has designed this project with that goal in mind. By designing a web-based survey,
the Arts Endowment has eliminated hundreds of hours of labor that would have been required to
administer a paper-based survey. A web-based survey enables the surveying of all USAI grantees
funded in the year prior. Because there are minimal costs associated with adding participants,
every grantee will have a chance to answer the survey. Thus, the electronic nature of the survey
provides the most efficient mechanism for the Arts Endowment to capture responses from
grantees.
Once the survey is electronically deployed, it will include dynamic survey logic that will
tailor the questions to present the most applicable and relevant questions to respondents. For
example, respondents who agree with the prepopulated information on their respective grants
will not be asked to update their records with relevant information.
A4. Efforts to identify duplication.
Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information
already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in item 2
above.
There is no similar ongoing data collection being conducted that duplicates the efforts of
the proposed data collection. This web survey is the first annual federal survey of USAI grantees.
USAI grantee administrative data does not include information on the benefits of the program for
artists’ careers. As a result, the Arts Endowment lacks information about the impacts of the
program on artists’ professional outcomes.
A5. Impacts on small businesses or other small entities.
No small business entities or other small entities are involved in this data collection.

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A6. Consequences of collecting the information less frequently.
Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not
conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to
reducing the burden.
The information will be collected in a voluntary annual survey of USAI grantees.
Information obtained from the survey will provide important evidence for the Arts Endowment
to continually report information on performance goal 3.3.3 in the 2018–2022 Strategic Plan.
Without this survey, the Arts Endowment will have no methods for fully understanding how the
USAI program benefits artists’ careers.
Collecting the information less frequently, or with fewer grantees, would not only impede
the Arts Endowment’s ability to understand how the USAI program continues to benefit U.S.
artists careers, it would also impede the agency’s ability to provide annual evidence supporting
the accomplishment of performance goal 3.3.3 in the 2018–2022 Strategic Plan.
A7. Special circumstances relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.6.
The information will be collected in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR
1320.6 (Controlling Paperwork Burden on the Public-General Information Collection
Guidelines). There are no special circumstances contrary to these guidelines.
A8. Comments in response to the Federal Register Notice and efforts to consult outside
Agency.
On Friday, August 2, 2019, a 60-day Federal Register Notice was published in 84 FR
16506 Volume 84, No. 149. No comments were received. Cognitive testing of the web survey
was conducted in November 2019, with nine respondents. See Attachment D. On Tuesday,
January 14, 2020, a 30-day Federal Register Notice was published in 85 FR 2150 Volume 85,
No. 9.
A9. Explain any decisions to provide any payment or gift to respondents.
Respondents will not receive any payment or gifts for completion of the web survey.
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A10. Assurances of confidentiality provided to respondents.
The web survey includes the festival name, country of the festival, and the year of the
festival for each respondent. The survey introduction and email communications include a
statement to respondents that all data for the survey will be kept confidential and that data will
only be analyzed and reported in aggregate. Moreover, the communications and survey include a
statement that answers will not affect any present or future grant applications, contract proposals,
or cooperative agreement proposals with the Arts Endowment or its partners. The Arts
Endowment will provide all respondents with a description of the importance of the survey and a
notification that their response to the survey is voluntary.
A11. Justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.
Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
The survey does not contain any questions of a sensitive nature.
A12. Estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate the number
of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the
burden was estimated.
Table 2. Burden Estimates for 2021 to 2023
Participant
Description

Instrument
or Activity
Web Survey

Average
Hours per
Response
0.13

Number of
Responses
per Person
1

Total
Estimated
Responses Burden
(Hours)
75
9.75

USAI Grantees,
traveling between
October 1, 2019 and
September 30, 2020
USAI grantees
traveling between
October 1, 2020 and
September 30, 2021
USAI grantees
traveling between

Web Survey

0.13

1

75

9.75

Web Survey

0.13

1

75

9.75

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October 1, 2021 and
September 30, 2022
The total estimated burden for web surveys to be conducted in Spring 2021, Spring 2022
and Spring 2023 is 9.75 hours each, based on the estimate of 8 minutes per respondent, as
supported by the findings from the cognitive testing of the survey instrument.
A13. Estimates of other total annual cost burden.
Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers
resulting from the collection of information.
Web survey participants do not incur any costs other than their time spent responding.
A14. Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal Government.
The total one-time contracted cost to the Federal Government for the pilot testing was
$17,873.56.
Based on experience gained during the pilot test phase, it is estimated that
implementation of the survey and reminders will involve approximately 22 hours of staff time, or
about $910 annually (22 hours x $41.37/hour).
A15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported on the
burden worksheet.
The burden worksheet was updated from the estimated burden for the pilot test to reflect
the burden estimate for an annual web survey planned for Spring 2021, Spring 2022, and Spring
2023. We estimate to 9.75 hours each year based on the estimate of 8 minutes per respondent as
supported by the findings from the cognitive testing and pilot testing of the survey instrument.
A16. Plans for tabulation, and publication and project time schedule.
For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation
and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the
time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection
of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
The purpose of this clearance package is to obtain full clearance for the Arts Endowment
to conduct annual data collection among grantee artists who participated in the USAI program. A
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pilot test was conducted after OMB approval to test the feasibility and reliability of the survey
composite scores and identify any issues with implementation. The pilot test was administered to
all USAI grantees who received funding from 2014 to 2018 and who did not participate in prior
focus groups or the survey cognitive testing, and who are not part of the respondent universe for
the planned 2021 data collection (N = 183). The pilot test was implemented in two phases in
order to achieve a satisfactory response rate contingent on Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval. 2M and the Arts Endowment limited communication with survey respondents
during phase 1 to email and implemented the data collection during a period of 2 weeks. The
overall response rate from phase 1 was 20 percent. 2M implemented a phase 2 of the pilot test, in
which 2M extended the data collection period to 5 weeks to include phone calls and the sending
of several emails to respondents, based on suggestions provided by OMB. The overall response
rate from phase 2 was 60 percent. The frame for the survey pilot test was 2014 to 2018 artist
grantees (N = 183). The frame for the annual survey includes USAI artist grantees from the year
preceding the survey implementation (N = 75, per year).
After obtaining final clearance, the Arts Endowment will conduct annual data collection
based on an estimated timeline presented below. The Arts Endowment will report descriptive
statistics on the survey items in annual publications.

Table 3. Project Schedule
Activity
Arts Endowment implements web survey of USAI grantees
traveling between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020
Arts Endowment implements web survey of USAI grantees
traveling between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021
Arts Endowment implements web survey of USAI grantees
traveling between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022

Expected Activity
Period
Spring 2021
Spring 2022
Spring 2023

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A17. Displaying the OMB Approval Expiration Date.
If you are seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
The Arts Endowment will display the expiration date of OMB approval and the OMB
approval number on all instruments associated with this information collection, including forms
and questionnaires.
A18. Exceptions to the certification statement identified in Item 19.
Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in Certification
for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.
No exceptions are necessary for this information collection. The agency is able to certify
compliance with all provisions under Item 19 of OMB Form 83-I.

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