Member News and NASAA Resources

Miah Michaelsen Is New Executive Director in Indiana

Miah Michaelsen has been named executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). She has served as the agency’s deputy director of operations since 2015. Before joining IAC, Michaelsen served as the first assistant economic development director for the arts for the City of Bloomington. In that role she developed and implemented all aspects of programming and services offered to the creative sector by the City of Bloomington and its state-designated cultural district. She served in executive director roles for the Bloomington Area Arts Council, the Children’s Hands on Museum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and the Kentuck Art Center and Festival in Northport, Alabama. Michaelsen has served on panels including the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Arts Council of Indianapolis, and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. She is a graduate of Hendrix College (Conway, Arkansas) with a B.A. with distinction in theatre. Michaelsen succeeds Lewis Ricci, who retired after 15 years of service as executive director.

NEW! Teaching Artists Strategy Sampler

Teaching artists are key stakeholders within statewide arts education ecosystems that include classroom teachers, administrators, principals, families, arts organizations, funders and lifelong learners in the arts. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and authored by arts consultant and community organizer Precious Blake, NASAA’s new Teaching Artist Relationships with State Arts Agencies Strategy Sampler offers a snapshot in time, describing how state arts agencies are adapting their programs, deepening their relationships, and demonstrating flexibility with rapid change in support of teaching artists. This resource is designed to catalyze further research, expand conversations about teaching artist support structures and inspire state arts agencies to explore new models for working with teaching artists.

Are You All In?

It’s that time of year—NASAA’s year-end fundraising campaign has begun. This year we’ve turned up the volume. NASAA is going All In for the Arts with a $50,000 matching gift opportunity! From now until December 31, donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000. That means that by the end of the year we could raise $100,000 to strengthen state arts agencies and boost the arts. The only way to meet our goal is if EVERYONE joins in and shows their support. No gift is too small and every dollar makes a difference. Please give today to double your impact. Thank you!