Member News and NASAA Resources

NASAA Learning Series November 3: Arts Partnerships and Public Health

How can artists, working with governments, meaningfully affect health outcomes in communities? Learn about innovative community health solutions at the final webinar in NASAA’s 2022 Learning Series, Leveraging Partnerships in the Arts to Strengthen Public Health. Taking place on Thursday, November 3, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, the session invites public-sector leaders and administrators to hear about the Health and Human Services Artist in Residence program, a collaboration between the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Rhode Island Department of Health, and the City of Providence’s Creative Community Health Worker program, which is a collaboration between Providence’s Department of Art, Culture + Tourism and Healthy Communities Office. This session is one result of an earlier convening among the National League of Cities, state and local leaders in Rhode Island, and NASAA. Register today!

2022 Creative Aging Institute November 8-16

NASAA presents a rich array of creative aging content led by experts across the country in its second annual Creative Aging Institute. Taking place over four afternoons (Eastern time), modules are designed to be stand-alone experiences. Pick and choose among almost a dozen online sessions to suit your own learning goals, or attend them all for a deep dive into how lifelong learning in the arts can benefit older Americans. The Creative Aging Institute takes place online via Zoom video conference on:

Tuesday, November 8, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Wednesday, November 9, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Tuesday, November 15, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Wednesday, November 16, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern

All state and jurisdictional arts agency and regional arts organization staff and council members are invited to participate, as are state and national arts and culture organizations, and individual artists and practitioners with an interest in creative aging. Registration for this event is free, to make information on current trends and best practices in creative aging widely accessible to all.

Save the Date for Older Americans & the Arts on December 6

A recent report, Untapped Opportunity: Older Americans & the Arts, reveals the priorities of older adults who engage with the arts and informs how organizations can develop responsive and inclusive strategies for serving older adults. Mark your calendar for a free web seminar on Tuesday, December 6, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern to hear the creative aging findings from this Culture Track study. This one-hour session is designed for arts nonprofits serving older adults, state and local government agencies, arts advocates, and organizations funding creative aging programs. All organizations that are pursuing arts based creative aging initiatives are welcome to participate as well. More information and registration details are coming soon!

Congratulations!

We want to give a special shout out to the 2022 NASAA Leadership Award winners! In case you missed it, NASAA proudly celebrated the award recipients—Mass Cultural Council, Jean Tokuda Irwin, Cyndy Andrus and Margaret Hunt—at the Leadership Awards Breakfast at NASAA Assembly 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. The amazing accomplishments of each of these winners is inspiring, and we will be forever grateful for their remarkable contributions to our field.

The NASAA Leadership Awards showcase best practices of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations, recognize diversity/equity/inclusion efforts, honor exemplary leadership, and demonstrate how government creatively, effectively and efficiently serves the public through the arts.

Being Mindful at Work

Meditating at work can reduce stress and frustration, while also boosting compassion, focus and energy. So many of us spend a large part of our lives at our jobs—which means work might actually be the easiest and most consistent place to fit meditation into your schedule! To support state arts agencies, NASAA offers meditation via Zoom three times a week, and all staff and council members are welcome to participate. These 15-minute sessions are led by Chief Advancement Officer Laura Smith, a certified meditation teacher who has experience helping creative professionals develop a practice that supports their goals and well-being. Reach out to Laura via e-mail or phone at 202-347-7066 for more information or to be added to the e-mail list.

Make an Even Bigger Splash!

Every year, donors to NASAA make an incredible impact on our work to strengthen state arts agencies. Check out these highlights from the past year to see what individual contributions made possible. We are so grateful for the generous support we receive and are honored that two long-standing major donors have contributed $50,000 for a matching gift opportunity to spur support for our year-end campaign. 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 can raise $100,000 to strengthen state arts agencies and boost the arts across the country! A strong NASAA = strong state arts agencies = a strong arts sector. Be a part of the ripple effect and double your impact by giving to NASAA today. Thank you!

NASAA Member BenefitsArts and creativity strengthen our nation—and NASAA strengthens state arts agencies in many ways. NASAA is your resource for data on the value of state arts agencies. We advocate for state arts agencies on Capitol Hill, helping to preserve the 40% of National Endowment for the Arts program funds designated for state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. We support arts advocates’ efforts with tools that help to ensure the arts are available to all. And we connect state arts agencies with one another to share knowledge, challenges and successes. Learn more about how NASAA works for you in NASAA Member Benefits.