Member News and NASAA Resources

Erin Harkey Named CEO of Americans for the Arts

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) has named Erin Harkey as its next CEO. Harkey brings more than two decades of experience helping nonprofit arts organizations and artists to thrive in local communities, including leadership roles at major municipal arts agencies across the country. Harkey has served for eight years at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, as both deputy commissioner and commissioner. In her dual role as senior policy advisor for arts in culture in the mayor’s office, she advised on cultural policy and arts strategy for all city departments and agencies, and advanced the arts by building coalitions across government departments and community stakeholders. Suzy Delvalle and Jamie Bennett will continue to serve as AFTA’s interim co-CEOs until Harkey begins her service at the end of March.

Niki Branch Joins NASAA as Operations Manager

NASAA welcomed Niki Branch to the team in January. As operations manager, Niki is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of NASAA’s day-to-day office functions. She provides overall technology and administrative support, manages the mission-critical membership database, and assists with accounting functions and conference and meeting logistics. Niki brings her dual passions for operational precision and artistic expression to advance NASAA’s mission. Her robust background in operations management includes contributing her expertise to ZERO Prostate Cancer, Shiloh Baptist Church, and N Street Village, consistently demonstrating her ability to create efficient and effective organizational systems. As a D.C.-based visual artist, Niki bridges the worlds of administrative precision and creative expression. She is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of art, dedicated to showing others that “art is the cure.” Her commitment to education extends beyond her own creative practice, as she actively contributes to reading literacy programs as a tutor.

February Learning Series Session: Arts and the Military Programs

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army

Join NASAA, the Delaware Division of the Arts, New Mexico Arts and the Washington State Arts Commission for the second session in NASAA’s 2025 Learning Series, Arts and the Military Programs. Taking place on February 26 from 3:00–4:00 p.m. Eastern (12:00–1:00 p.m. Pacific), the session looks at the arts and the military programs dedicated to veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and their families led by these state arts agencies, and explores how they are realizing their arts and military goals. Register to join us!

New Case-Making Tools from NASAA

As state legislative sessions and the 119th Congress get into full swing, arts leaders will need to communicate about the impressive return on investment delivered by government arts funding. NASAA can help! We’ve just released three new policy papers:

Each offers concise talking points and relevant data to help you convey the value of the arts to elected officials. Download your copies today!

Strength through Partnerships

Cross-sector collaborations open doors for state arts agencies to expand their reach and harness the power of the arts for community well-being. NASAA is dedicated to helping state arts agencies forge impactful partnerships, and we recently published three new cross-sector strategy samplers showcasing innovative programs and policies in action. From local initiatives to federal collaborations, these resources spotlight how the arts are strengthening communities nationwide. Your support helps NASAA equip state arts agencies with the insights and resources they need to lead. Please give today or set up a monthly donation to help us keep shining a light on the transformative work state arts agencies do. Thank you for being our partner!