According to a The New York Times article April 25, 2009, NPR will lay off 13 employees (in addition to the 64 laid off last December), eliminate contributions to retirement accounts and impose furloughs for all employees. While many arts organizations are suffering similar fates, public radio plays a special role in building and retaining audiences for museums and performing arts. In ARA audience research studies, we found that public radio stations are usually the most listened to both in local markets and among visitors from other cities nationwide.
Perhaps it is time for arts organizations to think about mobilizing its vast constituency of members, subscribers, visitors and audience members to support their local station either with contributions or through contact with their political representatives. As the circulations of newspapers in print declines and network television and commercial radio gives the arts almost no coverage, it is important to remember one of the hands that feeds us.
George Wachtel