NASAA News and Current Information

Help NASAA Advocate for the Arts

NASAA’s advocacy is nonstop! We work year-round to advance state arts agency (SAA) priorities with federal lawmakers, increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and protect the state-federal partnership between SAAs and the NEA. In fact, we’re the only organization in the country that advocates for the 40% of NEA grant funds that go to states, and just last week NASAA testified in Congress to make sure your voice is heard. NASAA doesn’t use member dues or NEA funds for our advocacy efforts, which means we rely solely on the generosity of people like you to do this work. Please support NASAA today to help us keep fighting for you and all state arts agencies. Thank you!

Examining Diversity in Museums and Grant Making

Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey 2018 is a new resource from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that considers how the composition of art museum staffs across America has changed since 2015. The report, produced in partnership with the Association of Art Museum Directors and the American Alliance of Museums, concludes that museum staffs have become overall more racially and ethnically diverse in the last three years even though the racial demographics of conservation and museum leadership have not changed. Across the pond, Arts Council England has released Equality, Diversity and the Creative Case, which looks at the diversity—in terms of race, disability, gender and sexual orientation—of the work force of its grantees as well as its own staff and leadership. The paper illustrates its findings through a number of helpful infographics, which might serve as a useful guide for how state arts agencies can visualize grant-making and other data.

New Arts Education Research

Two recent arts education studies provide new data linking positive student outcomes to arts-rich learning environments. Investigating Causal Effects of Arts Education Experiences reviews the results of a randomized controlled trial with more than 10,000 students enrolled in 42 schools. Researchers found causal links between arts education and student outcomes. The report shows statistically significant benefits to students in terms of reductions in disciplinary infractions, increases in compassion for others and improvements in writing achievement. The South Carolina Arts Commission and Palmetto State Arts Education, meanwhile, have published the results of a Gallup Student Poll about arts education in 30 schools in South Carolina. The resulting report, Creative, Engaged, & Ready for Tomorrow: Measuring Student Engagement in Arts-Rich Schools, finds that the longer students are exposed to arts, the more they report feelings of hope, being engaged and having entrepreneurial aspirations.

Michael Orlove Named NEA Director of State, Regional, and Local Partnerships

Photo by Cathy Edwards

Michael Orlove has been named director of State, Regional, and Local Partnerships at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This is a new position that combines the state and regional portfolio and the locals/Challenge America portfolio. For the past six years, Orlove has been director of Artist Communities and Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, and has responsibility for the NEA’s international programs. In his new position, he will continue to manage the NEA’s international work. Previously, Orlove spent 19 years as senior program director for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. His tenure with the department led to nearly two decades of innovation, creativity and passion for public service with the City of Chicago. Orlove helped transform the Chicago Cultural Center into a prime downtown performing arts venue, as well as launched Chicago SummerDance and World Music Festival: Chicago, two staples in the summer festival season. He also served as the director of music programming in Millennium Park since its grand opening in 2004 and helped establish many of the program series at that venue. Honors include being named one of the Chicagoans of the Year in music by the Chicago Tribune in both 1999 and 2009, as well as one of Chicago’s Global Visionaries by Chicago Public Radio WBEZ and the Chicago Matters: Beyond Burnham series. Orlove has a B.A. in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.A. in performing arts management from Columbia College Chicago. He will begin his new position in April, succeeding Andi Mathis, who has been interim director since Laura Scanlan departed in 2017.