Access and Utilization of Government Supports and Safety Nets Among Arts and Design Alumni

SNAAP Pulse is an invitation-only survey of arts and design alumni offering a unique opportunity to amplify the voices of creative communities.

Arts and design alumni across the United States report a range of perspectives and experiences related to public supports and safety nets, according to results from the 2026 SNAAP Pulse survey on this topic. Responses reflect variation in opinions about public supports, differences in access to government programs, and diverse patterns of financial and employment stability. 

This national SNAAPShot draws on responses from over 2,000 arts alumni representing more than 100 colleges and universities, offering insights into how creative professionals are using public supports and safety nets, and information on work-life vulnerabilities. The alumni respondents were evenly spread among graduation year, with the most alumni graduating between 2018 – 2022 (17.1%) or 1987 and before (18.1%). Additionally, most respondents lived in either the Northeast (33.3%) or Midwest (28.3%) of the United States. Finally, over half (55.2%) of respondents currently worked in some kinds of arts-related occupation.

The SNAAP Supports and Safety Nets survey was fielded in 2026 and asked alumni about their opinions on public supports, their use of government benefits, their employment and income changes, and their overall financial stability. The survey also included questions on healthcare coverage, student loan debt, and informal support systems. Over 2000 arts and design alumni completed the survey. The following figures and statistics provide an overview of key findings from the survey.

Figure 1 shows respondents’ levels of agreement with statements about public supports and safety nets for creative workers. A large majority of respondents (93%) agree that creative workers should have the same access to public supports as other workers. Additionally, 73% agree that the government has a responsibility to ensure creative workers can maintain stable livelihoods, and 86% agree that many current public programs do not reflect how creative work and income function. Concurrently, 73% of respondents disagree that expanding public supports for creative workers would be unfair to other workers, and 61% disagree that support should come mainly from private sources rather than government programs.

Figure 2 presents indicators related to student loan debt and confidence in repayment. The average reported student loan debt among respondents is $45,468. Confidence in the ability to repay student loans varies, with approximately 41% of respondents reporting that they are not at all confident, about 24% slightly confident, 18% mostly confident, and 16% very confident in their ability to repay their loans.

Figure 3 summarizes reported employment changes in the past 12 months. The largest share of respondents (41.15%) report no changes in employment. Among those reporting changes, 21.8% added an additional job or side gig, 11.65% selected other types of changes, and 9.99% started a new salaried job. Additional reported changes include stopping a side gig (9.11%), experiencing a layoff or contract end (7.85%), leaving a salaried job (6.7%), switching from salaried to freelance work (4.85%), pausing or closing a freelance practice (4.57%), stopping work due to leave (4.32%), returning to work after leave (3.62%), and switching from freelance to salaried work (2.04%).

Figure 4 presents selected indicators related to financial supports and stability. In the past 12 months, 15% of respondents report applying for a social support and 19% report using one. Additionally, 40% report not being confident in their retirement funds, 29% report having student loan debt, and 3% report not having health insurance.

Technical Notes

1. All data are weighted using the procedures outlined in the SNAAP Pulse Technical Documentation.

2. Survey items include measures of opinion (agreement scales), reported use of social supports, and self-reported financial and employment changes over the past 12 months.