Member News and NASAA Resources

Crisis Analysis and Mitigation Coaches Wanted: Deadline Dec. 15

State arts agency staff are encouraged to apply for the Crisis Analysis and Mitigation Coaches (CAM) program. CAM training prepares you to work within your agency, with your state partners and in your state to use the arts in local disaster planning. Selected participants receive free professional development through NCAPER (National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response) and Air Collaborative, including:

gaining expert guidance on crisis management;
connecting with a network of supportive peers and professionals;
being positioned to work with state emergency management, economic development and other colleagues to include the arts in planning and mitigation;
demonstrating your agency’s commitment to building resilience in communities; and
enhancing your personal and professional ability to navigate and mitigate challenging situations.

The application deadline is December 15. Learn more about the CAM program and current CAM coaches, or contact Jan Newcomb, jnewcomb@ncaper.org. CAM is supported by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation.

Watch 2023 Creative Aging Institute Videos

Creating community—with peers our own age or across generations—is one of the most important benefits of creative aging programs. Last month’s Creative Aging Institute featured leaders in the fields of arts and aging who shone a light on why and how arts learning is such an enduring source of well-being as we age. Researchers and practitioners shared knowledge that helped participants design successful programs for older adults and promote creative aging in their communities. Watch all 2023 Creative Aging Institute sessions.

Here for Each Other

Every year, donors to NASAA make an incredible impact on our work to strengthen state arts agencies. In 2023, donors helped us protect and grow funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, retool and expand advocacy resources, cultivate new partnerships and programs, and deepen connections between members. You can see more highlights of things we achieved thanks to our donors.

Individual contributions are special in many ways, but are especially crucial for our advocacy work, because NASAA’s other main revenue sources (federal funds and member dues) don’t cover these costs. We count on the support of individuals like you to do things we otherwise could not do, and to be proactive and flexible so we can guarantee state arts agencies get the support they need, when they need it. That’s why making our $50,000 match is so important. It will mean $100,000 for NASAA and state arts agencies, and it will help us accomplish even more together in the year ahead. We can’t do it without you. Please give now. Thank you!

Turning toward What’s Good

We’re heading into what for many people is a super-busy time of year, with holidays, year-end activities, travel, time with family and friends, and more. There can be a lot of competing priorities, mixed emotions and stress. There also can be a lot of joy, especially when we pause to reflect on what’s good in our lives. This wonderful recap of why Gratitude Really Is Good for You summarizes some of the latest findings on how giving, receiving and even witnessing gratitude can support well-being, especially during hard times. This article on 7 Ways to Experience More Joy offers some lovely, evidence based ways to tap into greater ease. And this solid piece breaks down 5 Myths About Self-Compassion to help us be kinder to ourselves, which is so necessary and also sometimes hard to do, especially when we’re under pressure. Hopefully, you’ll have a moment to explore these and see if something resonates for you.

To support state arts agency staff and council members’ well-being, NASAA offers short meditations three times a week. Chief Advancement Officer Laura Smith, a certified meditation teacher, leads these 15-minute Zoom sessions (camera-free), and all are welcome to attend. Reach out to Laura via email or phone at 202-347-7066 for more info or to be added to the email list.