About Us

Welcome to ArtsInSight

At ArtsInSight, we believe the arts have the power to transform lives, spark belonging, and strengthen communities. ArtsInSight grew from my belief that research and evaluation can be tools for storytelling, learning, and growth—not just compliance. After a decade contributing to research and evaluation at the National Endowment for the Arts and a career that began in art museums as a teaching artist, educator, and administrator, I founded ArtsInSight to help arts organizations, funders, and public agencies better understand and communicate the impact of their work.

Photo of face of light-skinned woman with strawberry blond hair

ArtsInSight builds on my training as a social scientist and evaluator, my lifelong engagement with the arts, and two decades of experience evaluating arts and education programs across the country. Whether assessing creative youth development, arts education, creative placemaking, or arts and health initiatives, I bring a perspective grounded in both rigorous methods and deep respect for community knowledge.

We welcome collaborations with those who are working to expand access to the arts and strengthen their impact—especially in schools, neighborhoods, and among groups whose stories have too often gone unheard. Whether you need help crafting a theory of change, measuring community outcomes, or making a compelling case to stakeholders, ArtsInSight is ready to partner with you. Let’s work together to illuminate the impact of the arts—on students, individuals, and the communities we call home.

— Patricia Moore Shaffer, Ph.D.

Meet the Leadership Team

Executive Director

Patricia Moore Shaffer, PhD

Dr. Shaffer contributed to the National Endowment for the Arts' research and evaluation efforts for ten years in her role as deputy director of the NEA's Office of Research & Analysis. During this time, she coordinated arts research and program evaluation studies. As an independent researcher, she has conducted more than 75 studies of arts and education programs for schools, higher education institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits. She has served on the boards of both the Washington Evaluators and the Eastern Evaluation Research Society and on two local arts commissions.

Lead Researcher

Danielle Hollar, PhD

Dr. Hollar brings over 15 years of expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods. She has led health and social policy initiatives, including in nutrition, wellness, and sport, across the U.S. and internationally, collaborating with various organizations to enhance community well-being. Previously, she directed a $30 million NIH cardiovascular clinical trial and was a Faculty Research Associate at Harvard University Graduate School of Education, leading evaluation work for a W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded Devolution Initiative.

Director of Operations

Amy Hughes, MEd

Ms. Hughes is an experienced project manager, having led large-scale data collection projects focusing on youth health in postsecondary and K-12 schools on behalf of federal, state, and local government agencies. In addition to project management, she is skilled in survey administration, including recruitment strategy refinement and staff training and supervision. Prior to joining SEG, Ms. Hughes managed privacy-preserving data analytics projects in a social enterprise technology firm. She has served on boards of nonprofit arts organizations.

Get to Know Our Work

Visit our Portfolio to learn more about our work in the arts.

Portfolio

Let’s Work Together

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