Ithaca Ranks in Top 10 Cities Committed to Arts and Culture

City recognized for sustained cultural vitality in post-COVID era

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The City of Ithaca has been nationally recognized as a community committed to supporting arts and culture, ranking #6 on Southern Methodist University's (SMU) top 100 most Arts-Vibrant Communities of 2025. SMU's Arts Vibrancy Index measures supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture at the community level, and Ithaca has been featured multiple times since 2020, which SMU says signals sustained cultural vitality in the post-COVID era.

Why it matters

Ithaca's high ranking on the Arts Vibrancy Index highlights the city's commitment to fostering a thriving arts and culture scene, which can have significant economic and social benefits for the local community. This recognition could also help attract more visitors, businesses, and residents to Ithaca who value access to arts and cultural amenities.

The details

The Arts Vibrancy Index measures data based on three core principles: supply (total arts providers), demand (total nonprofit arts dollars in the community), and public support (total state and federal arts dollars going to the community). Ithaca's consistent placement on the index since 2020 demonstrates the city's sustained efforts to support and promote its arts and culture initiatives, even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Ithaca has been featured multiple times on the Arts Vibrancy Index since 2020.
  • The 2025 Arts Vibrancy Index ranking was released in February 2026.

The players

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

The university that publishes the annual Arts Vibrancy Index, which measures supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture at the community level.

City of Ithaca

The city in New York state that ranked #6 on the 2025 Arts Vibrancy Index, recognized for its commitment to supporting arts and culture initiatives.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

Ithaca's high ranking on the Arts Vibrancy Index demonstrates the city's ongoing dedication to fostering a thriving arts and culture scene, which can have significant benefits for the local community in terms of economic development, tourism, and quality of life. This recognition could help Ithaca continue to attract new residents, businesses, and visitors who value access to arts and cultural amenities.