From the Field

Surveyed Attitudes toward Proof of Vaccine

Impacts Experience has just published Should Cultural Entities Require Proof of Vaccinationn? a survey of arts patrons’ attitudes toward requiring proof of vaccination as a condition for attending arts events. It found that 48% of respondents want cultural institutions to require potential visitors to show proof of vaccination to attend performances and exhibits. 59% of respondents with young children favor organizational vaccine requirements, while respondents without young children came in at 44%. This new data, along with Impacts Experience’s continuous study of attitudes toward masking, is an important resource for arts and cultural organizations in deciding how to reopen and provide safe experiences.

Arts Organizations at a Crossroads Toolkit

The National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness & Emergency Response—of which NASAA is a participating partner—has just released Protecting Your Assets Toolkit. This toolkit is a valuable resource for arts organizations seeking to manage transitions and preserve assets, offering guidance in three distinct areas: legal and structural choices, protecting your knowledge assets, and managing and preserving your legacy. Each section contains useful forms, worksheets, and links to resources geared toward the unique challenges that arts and cultural organizations face during periods of change.

USDA Resource Guide for Rural Workforce Development

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is prioritizing collaborations with its federal partners to help start and grow businesses and give individuals the educational and financial tools to succeed in rural America. To this end, the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center developed a new guide for community leaders and other local entities to help them access resources to create jobs, train talent, expand educational opportunities and provide technical assistance. The guide outlines programs and services available at USDA and other federal departments and agencies that support workforce development in rural communities.

National Monument Audit

Monument Lab, in partnership with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and its Monuments Project, has just released the National Monument Audit. This audit examines nearly 50,000 monuments to understand the current landscape of American monuments. Focusing on monuments dedicated to individuals, the report finds that monuments change often; portray predominantly white, wealthy, male figures; largely commemorate acts of war and conquest; and omit many aspects of America’s complex history. The audit calls for further critical analysis of the power structures inherent in creating monuments and a shift toward better representation in monuments. The report also supports engaging and correcting current misrepresentation and working toward creating a monument landscape that fosters healing and repair.