Tierney Bamrick, a PhD candidate in the School of Public Affairs, has published a single-authored article in The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society. 

The article, titled “The Art of Market Change: Government Grants, Local Arts Revenue Concentration, and the Influence of Large Arts Organizations,” explores a critical question at the intersection of arts funding and sector dynamics.  

At a time when government grants are more important than ever, Tierney’s research deepens our understanding of how these grants shape the broader arts ecosystem. 

Using NEA grants as a test case, the study examines their impact on a persistent feature of the U.S. arts sector: the concentration of revenue among the largest organizations. Findings suggest that NEA grants are associated with lower revenue concentration, though large organizations moderate this effect. These insights carry important implications for theory, program evaluation, grantmaking, and local communities. 

Tierney is a Ph.D. Candidate focused on nonprofits, arts and culture, and civil society, informed by her experience as a professional musician and nonprofit manager.  She is particularly interested in understanding how public funding shapes the arts sector and how arts nonprofits relate to the public.