Arts and Entertainment in the Pandemic Era

Happy new year, everyone! As we roll into 2021, I am pleased to share a new partnership project with you. You may recall that collaboration is an enduring NASAA value. This is the case because collaborations and partnerships broaden understanding of the impact of state arts agencies and NASAA, and they build communities of support for our work. To this end, fostering cross-sector support and strategic partnerships to benefit state arts agencies is an evergreen objective for us, and we work to advance such collaborations each year.

Our newest collaboration will feature the current state of the arts and entertainment industries for America’s business community. Starring Role: Arts and Entertainment in the Pandemic Era will be jointly presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, its affiliate Global Innovation Policy Center, the National Endowment for the Arts, NASAA and Americans for the Arts (AFTA) on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization; it represents companies of all sizes across all sectors of the economy. Chamber affiliate Global Innovation Policy Center works around the world to champion innovation and creativity through intellectual property standards that create jobs, save lives, advance global economic and cultural prosperity, and generate breakthrough solutions to global challenges. We are excited to co-present this event alongside these new partners, as well as with our esteemed colleagues at the Arts Endowment and AFTA.

This 90-minute online event will feature the following themes and participants:

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark will interview actress Annette Bening and National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter about the social and economic contributions of the creative sector.
Arts Endowment Director of Research Sunil Iyengar will lead a panel presentation on the economic impact of the arts and creative sector that will highlight the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on the sector.
Amy Webb of AFTA will moderate a panel discussion to feature stories of impacts of the pandemic on the arts and entertainment industries. Speakers will include Kristin Sakoda of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Mitch Glazier of the Recording Industry Association of America, and Joseph Benincasa of The Actors Fund.
The impact of the pandemic on small creative businesses will take center stage during a panel discussion that will feature Twanna Hines of Funky Brown Chick, Inc., and, from the state arts agency family, Margaret Hunt of Colorado Creative Industries.
U.S. Chamber’s Rick Wade will interview Verdine White, bassist and founding member of the legendary band Earth, Wind and Fire, to discuss the impact of compounding crises on BIPOC artists and the importance of the vitality of the sector.
NASAA and AFTA will close the event by providing policy guidance and recommendations for pathways to equitable recovery for the arts and entertainment sectors.

Please join us and our partners on January 11 for Starring Role: Arts and Entertainment in the Pandemic Era. You can find complimentary registration here.