NEWARK, NJ — Newark has one of the "most vibrant arts communities" in the nation, a report says.

The SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, recently released their 2019 Arts Vibrancy Index Report, which named Newark high on their 2019 list of "The Top 40 Most Arts-Vibrant Communities in America." Read the full report and see its methodology.

Newark came in at #7 among large metropolitan areas, ranking behind: New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ

San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Boston, MA According to SMU DataArts, here's why the arts are so vital: