From the Research Team

Cross-Sector Strategies for Health and Community Well-being, Civic Infrastructure, Creative Rural Development

In collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), NASAA is releasing three new Strategy Samplers exemplifying successful state programs and policies that leverage the arts and creativity for solving community challenges.

Cross-Sector Strategies for Health and Community Well-being underscores the transformative potential of the arts in improving individual and collective health while fostering sustainable partnerships between arts organizations and health systems.

Cross-Sector Strategies for Civic Infrastructure and Community Cohesion highlights the role of the arts in shaping quality of life by strengthening community bonds. It calls for sustained partnerships and investments to expand the integration of the arts into civic and community development initiatives.

Cross-Sector Strategies for Creative Rural Development demonstrates that embedding the arts into rural development not only revitalizes economies but also strengthens social fabric, preserves cultural heritage and improves quality of life for rural residents. This Strategy Sampler will be released in mid-January.

All three Strategy Samplers document how state arts agencies collaborate with various sectors to enhance well-being, creative development and cohesion of communities across the United States. Each sampler provides insights into mechanisms for establishing such partnerships, lessons learned and references to available resources.

On January 15, NASAA kicks off the 2025 Learning Series with State Arts Agency Cross-Sector Strategies, covering all three new Strategy Samplers. Registration is open to staff and council/board members from state and jurisdictional arts agencies and regional arts organizations.