This request is for clearance to
conduct the 2015 and 2016 Annual Arts Benchmarking Surveys (AABS).
These surveys will be conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau as a
supplement to the Bureau of Labor Statistic's Current Population
Survey. The AABS will be conducted in February 2015 and February
2016 and are expected to conducted annually thereafter in years
that the National Endowment for the Arts' (NEA) Survey of Public
Participation in the Arts (SPPA) is not conducted. One of the
strengths of the AABS surveys is that they will both complement and
supplement the information collected in the SPPA. The SPPA is the
field's premiere repeated cross-sectional survey of individual
attendance and involvement in arts and cultural activity, and is
conducted approximately every five years. The AABS questionnaires
are much shorter than the SPPA, consisting of 10 to 12 questions
that will be used to track arts participation over time. As with
the SPPA, the AABS data will be circulated to interested
researchers and will be the basis for a range of NEA reports and
independent research publications. Reports on these data will be
made publicly available on the NEA's website. The AABS will provide
annual primary knowledge on the extent and nature of participation
in the arts in the United States. These data will also be used by
the NEA as a contextual measure for one of the strategic goals
identified in its FY 2014 – FY 2018 strategic plan.
US Code:
20
USC 954 Name of Law: National Foundation on the Arts and
Humanities Act
This request is based on a
similar request that was submitted to conduct two years of AABS
surveys in FY13 and FY14. In advance of those surveys, a pilot test
was to be conducted, and that pilot test was part of the original
ICR. Because the surveys to be conducted in FY15 and FY16 are
identical to those conducted in FY13 and FY14, respectively, the
pilot test is no longer required. As such, the burden is reduced by
the amount that was included in the original request for the pilot
test.
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.