State arts agencies play a pivotal role in providing support and opportunities for individual artists, using a variety of strategies to do so. Often, state arts agencies support individual artists directly through grants that encourage the development of new works or advance artists’ careers. Investments in individual artist grants have significantly increased over the past…
State arts agencies often collaborate with statewide partners to expand their reach, increase capacity, and grow networks of beneficiaries and advocates. The Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) partnership with the Alabama Writers’ Forum (AWF) highlights the potential that strategic, long-term partnerships have for supporting arts and culture. Started in 1993, the Alabama Writers’…
Governors’ inaugurations are not only celebrations of the democratic process and affirmations of policy visions, but also opportunities for states to showcase their greatest assets, such as prominent artists and cultural traditions. State arts agencies are poised to contribute to inauguration ceremonies and festivities in ways that harness the arts in honor of public service,…
DesignAlabama (DA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the importance of the design arts, is one of Alabama’s statewide arts service organizations that benefits from a partnership with and operating support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA). Over the years, ASCA has helped DA develop initiatives that spotlight how…
South Arts has kicked off a pilot program to help expand opportunities for performing arts presenters and grow the performing arts field in its nine member states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Through its Launchpad initiative, the regional arts organization is providing mentorships and other professional development services to…
The Gulf States Presenters Network (GSPN) is a collaborative effort of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Mississippi Arts Commission to cultivate performance opportunities—and the creative economy—for presenting artists and arts organizations. The three state arts agencies each offer grants to presenters in their own state…
The Junior Leadership Team met for the first time in February 2015. Photo courtesy of ASCA Visual Arts Program Manager Elliot Knight In 2013, the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) partnered with the Alabama Department of Education to launch the Alabama Arts Education Leadership Team. This task force works…
Thirty state arts agencies award fellowship grants to individual artists, but only two of them also offer arts administration fellowships. These programs recognize the achievements—and advance the leadership and management skills—of the hardworking, talented people who make sure theatre curtains rise, gallery doors stay open and communities have opportunities to thrive creatively. Through the Elizabeth…
Journey Proud is a new documentary series produced by Alabama Public Television (APT) and the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) highlighting the people, customs and traditions of Alabama. The series is hosted by folklorist Joey Brackner, director of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, the folklife division of ASCA. APT Executive Producer Chris…
The Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA), the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention/Children’s Trust Fund recently collaborated to offer three specially designed keepsake birth certificates. A portion of the fees collected will be paid into the Children’s Trust Fund, which supports programs and activities…
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