From the Field

Principles for an Antiracist, Equitable State Response to COVID-19

3 Principles for an Anti-Racist, Equitable State Response to COVID-19—and a Stronger Recovery, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, outlines the steps states need to take to remedy the socioeconomic and health inequities that are being exacerbated by COVID-19. Targeting aid at those who are most at risk, actively countering historical inequality and protecting state financial health through smart tax policies are principles to help frame states’ policy choices. Although in crisis, states—including the 11-plus that have already created inequality task forces—can adopt antiracist policies to work toward a quicker, more equitable recovery.

Teaching Artists as Essential Workers

WolfBrown’s latest release in its Navigating the Crisis series, Teaching Artists as Essential Workers: Respect, Collaboration, and Heft, finds that while teaching artists are “first responders” providing creative opportunities for all students, they are finding their jobs less secure than ever. The article suggests that teaching artists, together with cultural organizations, collaborate in new organizational management, build new partnerships across organizations and focus on the in-depth work that can still be generated in this period.

WHO: Role of Arts in Improving Health and Well-Being

The World Health Organization examined more than 900 publications to establish a base of evidence for the role of the arts in improving health in a recent report, Heath Evidence Network Synthesis Report 67. The results indicate that the arts can impact mental and physical health through prevention, promotion, management and treatment strategies. The report supports evidenced based policy that acknowledges the tested benefit of the arts, recognizes the value added by arts and cultural organizations, and strengthens the partnership between the arts and health fields.

Envisioning the Future of Theatre for Young Audiences

The National Endowment for the Arts and Theatre for Young Audiences/USA has collaborated on the report, Envisioning the Future of Theater for Young Audiences, which details a 2019 convening they had together with Theatre Communications Group to address the challenges and opportunities facing theatres for youth. The challenges include funding, business operations, leadership development and research. The conveners envision a future where children will have access to theatre as part of their core development, and seek to elevate theatre education through collaborations with regular theatres, coverage of performances by arts journalists and recognition from funders.

2019 Local Arts Agency Profile

Americans for the Arts released a second edition of the Profile of Local Arts Agencies, which tracks trends in local arts agency (LAA) programs, budgets and operations through a survey of 633 agencies. Key findings: 64% of LAAs reported an increase in operating budgets from FY2018-FY2019, 76% provide financial support directly to organizations and artists, and just under 50% of agencies surveyed have adopted diversity, equity and inclusion statements. New this year is a Local Arts Agency Dashboard to make interactive comparisons across LAAs.