A new nationwide survey shows that the recession has had a strong impact on artists. Slightly more than half of responding artists reported a decrease in income from 2008 to 2009, including 18 percent who saw it decrease by 50 percent or more. Despite the negative findings, 75 percent of those surveyed believe "it is an inspiring time to be an artist in America." For more information and to read the Artists and the Economic Recession Survey commissioned by Leveraging Investments in Creativity, a 10-year national initiative to improve the conditions for artists, click here or visit www.lincnet.net.