"If every artist in America's work force banded together, their ranks would be double the size of the United States Army," notes New York Times writer Sam Roberts, reporting on a recent nationwide artist profile released by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). According to the report, in 2005, the primary employment of nearly 2 million Americans fit the criteria for an artist occupation—including architects, interior designers and window dressers in addition to fine artists—which earned them a median income of $34,800 (more than the national average of $30,100, but well under the average for "professionals"). Another 300,000 people said being an artist was their second job.

The NEA report confirms that these numbers represent a growing (nearly triple since 1970), vital, but underappreciated population. NEA chairman Dana Gioia, himself a poet, has a unique solution to the problem of underemployment of artists: Put them to work in our schools.

Click here to download the report.