NASAA News and Current Information

Thank You!

Many, many thanks to everyone who donated to NASAA’s Better Together year-end campaign—we raised $34,000, far exceeding our original $25,000 goal! Thanks also to everyone who contributed to NASAA’s Annual Fund in 2019. Over the past year, we raised $118,000, surpassing our annual goal by 18%. A huge success—for all of us! This strong support means NASAA can do even more for state arts agencies in 2020. Together, we really do make a difference. Thank you!

New Community Development Resources

The Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations and Just Act’s “Art Powered Places” uses arts-based strategies to help residents develop a shared vision of transformation. Photo by Lisa Jo Epstein, Just Act

Want to empower your community and cultural development work? Check out the November 2019 edition of the Community Development Innovation Review. Featured authors include artists, developers, bankers and researchers—and NASAA!—exploring how creative processes contribute to vibrant places and expand opportunities for low-income neighborhoods. Use it as a call to action and share it with your networks through your social media, newsletters and other communications channels. An article jointly authored by the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations and NASAA, State Policy Innovations to Support Creative Placemaking, offers seven policy recommendations that emphasize state level actions that can have a meaningful local impact.

New Year and New Beginnings

We’re looking forward to 2020—to new opportunities, new partnerships, new solutions, and most of all another year working alongside you, our state arts agency community! A new year is a perfect time to affirm your commitment to state arts agencies and the arts. Show your support by becoming a NASAA Champion and donate monthly, or make a one-time gift to help us start the year off right. When you support NASAA’s annual fund, you help strengthen the arts infrastructure across the country. Together, we can rise up to meet new challenges and have the best year yet! Thank you!

Connie Souto Learman Has Departed NASAA

NASAA Special Assistant to the President and CEO Connie Souto Learman bid farewell to NASAA last month. Connie joined NASAA in 2017. She provided direct support to Pam Breaux and was responsible for programmatic, administrative and advocacy tasks including supporting NASAA members, our board of directors and the Governance Committee. Connie administered the NASAA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mentorship Program and the NASAA People of Color Affinity Group, for state arts agency people of color. She also liaised with our territorial state arts agency members. Prior to NASAA, Connie was community development director at the Mississippi Arts Commission and was human resources manager for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind. Originally from Brazil, Connie has worked actively with arts festivals and cultural organizations and for arts fundraising events inside and outside the United States. NASAA wishes Connie all success in her new position with World Vision’s Grants and Contracts Services legal team in D.C., where she manages the Latin American region.