The Observatory is led by two principal investigators -- Dan Martin and Edna Neivert. Professor Martin has more than twenty-five years of experience as a professional arts manager, researcher, teacher and academic administrator in the arts management field. Ms. Neivert, a graduate of high distinction from Carnegie Mellon University's Master of Arts Management Program and Yale University, has experience in arts programming, community development, and research and analysis.

The Observatory operates under the governance of an advisory board. The Observatory's advisory board consists of regional and national researchers, and scholars and consultants working in the arts, management and social science fields - including statistical experts, social scientists, art historians, and demographers. A limited number of professional arts executives will sit on the advisory board, in order to protect the objectivity of the research. The primary focus of the advisory board is to ensure the data collection is inclusive and that analysis is meaningful.

The Observatory's performance will be evaluated by an annual survey of the region's arts and culture organizations, funders, service organizations and government agencies soliciting feedback on the efficacy, impact and value of the Observatory's research and analysis products.