Audience Research & Analysis - ARA

05/10/2026

Always loved this view from the secret staircase at MOMA. Our economic impact study spearheaded this expansion of the Museum in 2004 which brought New vitality and 1 million more visitors to this tightly surrounded midtown location. A total success aesthetically and artistically.

05/19/2022

ARA monitors tourism to Lower Manhattan with onsite surveys and Intelligent Digital Counting powered by Exteros. 2023 saw a 27% in tourists (non-metro area residents) over 2022. CLICK TO SEE RESULTS

Annual Visitor Study Audience Research & Analysis has been tracking the number of unique visitors to Lower Manhattan for The Alliance for Downtown New York since 2012. There has been steady growth since the pandemic. In 2023, ARA interviewed 2,988 non-group visitors (exclusive of people who lived or...

02/28/2022

In 2024, ARA will conduct an update of its 2019 Economic Impact Study of NYRR activities including the TCS New York City Marathon which in 2019 generated an estimated $427 million in economic impact for New York City significantly boosting tourism, tax revenues, and the economy. Throughout 2019, NYRR hosted a wide-range of 45 annual races generating an estimated $593 million economic impact and more than 4,000 jobs (full-time equivalent) in New York City.

02/19/2021

Continuing its work to support Columbia County's efforts to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ARA conducted surveys among business owners and residents to evaluate the impact of the Shared Streets program in 2020 as a planning tool for 2021. Our findings are included in this Future Hudson presentation.

Shared with Dropbox

12/03/2020

How does a performing arts venue survive during Covid? Just ask Elena Siyanko, Executive Director of PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century who reprogrammed an entire summer season when all the international bookings were called off. After the season, ARA surveyed its loyal audience (pro bono) to understand its preferences for both live and live-streamed performances. We learned that about half had attended dance, music, and film in the outdoor shed more than five times. In terms of classical music, interests ranged widely, but we were surprised to discover the significant appetite for contemporary music. We were also pleased that so much of the audience came not just from the Columbia County and the Berkshires, but from the capital region in Albany, Connecticut, and beyond.

11/05/2020

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/arts/jersey-city-arts-tax.html
A vote in the right direction ...

Officials had worried that a new arts tax may be too much to ask in a place still reeling financially from the pandemic, but 64 percent of New Jersey voters approved of the idea.

09/04/2020

JAPAN CUTS - first virtual film festival from Japan Society
During this COVID-19 period, museums have adapted in creative ways to keep and, in the case of the Japan Society, expand its audience. Not being able to host its JAPAN CUTS film festival onsite this year, Japan Society launched its first virtual JAPAN CUTS film festival in July 2020. More people bought tickets to the virtual screenings than had attended in-person last year.
ARA had surveyed the in-theatre film audience in 2019. For this year’s festival, ARA fielded an online survey addressed to the virtual audience. We achieved a robust response rate of 28 percent. The survey found that:
· The virtual festival expanded the reach of Japan Society: 47 percent of ticket buyers for the screenings had never been to Japan Society, including 19 percent who had not previously heard of the institution.
· Social media posts and email from Japan Society were the primary sources of information about the festival.
· Genre, the film’s talent, and trailers were the primary drivers for choosing films.
· Virtually all planned to attend JAPAN CUTS next year including 60 percent who said they would watch films both in-person and online.
As part of our response to the COVID crisis, ARA conducted this study for Japan Society on a pro bono basis, as we are also doing for the Museum of the City of New York (first visitors to return after reopening) and Art Omi Sculpture & Architecture Park in Columbia County, NY.

08/27/2020

Surveying the first visitors to return to the Museum of the City of New York as it reopened today.

07/26/2020

MY TIME WITH JOHN LEWIS
Recently, Donald Trump tried to reintroduce tax legislation that would allow full deduction for dining out and entertainment. That deduction was cut to one-half in the 90s in response to what was colloquially called the "three-martini lunch." Deja vu all over again.
This reminded me of my work, as a I representative of the Broadway Theatre Industry, to retain the full deduction at that time. Prior to testifying before the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance committees, I met one-on-one with John Lewis in his office. What a kind man. Congressman Lewis could not have had less interest in supporting business entertainment tax deductions but he listened to me patiently allowing me adequate time to make my full argument, which was based on an economic impact analysis. He never showed a sign of disinterest or impatience.
Now a little older and wiser, I might have approached that meeting differently, acknowledging that this might not have been his priority but appreciative he would hear me out. In any event, he heard me out.

02/15/2019

What makes a hit? it will always be an enigma. Most come from successful collaborations but even that's not a guarantee.

The only thing missing from the money reviews was the money. Critics greeted “The Prom” with cheers when it opened in November at the Longacre Theatre. In the Times, Jesse Green called it, “a joyful hoot.” An upbeat tale of a mid-western girl who just wants to be able to take her girlfriend ...