Research and Scholarship

Crystal Bridges fosters scholarship in the fields of American art and art history, as well as research that expands our understanding of the power of art experiences to positively impact lives.

Crystal Bridges Symposia

Crystal Bridges is committed to an ongoing symposia series bringing artists into conversation with thought leaders, scholars, and the public around a variety of topics. Symposia reports, interviews, and videos are posted here.

2014 Arts and Culture – The Intersection of Research and Policy

2014 State of the Art Symposium: Discovering American Art Now

2015 International Symposium: Picturing the Americas

2017 Art in Conversation: Environment, Identity, and Memory

2018 Art in Conversation: Soul of a Nation

2021 Thinking, Making, Writing: Indigenous Studies and Art History in the Museum, Classroom, and Community

Arts and Economic Prosperity 5: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Organizations and Their Audiences

The fifth study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry’s impact on the economy, which documents the economic contributions of the arts in 341 diverse communities and regions across the country, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

This study puts to rest a misconception that communities support arts and culture at the expense of local economic development. In fact, communities are investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism. Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 shows conclusively that, locally as well as nationally, the arts mean business. View the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study.