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 continually seek to enliven communities through the creative integration of arts in public space. Increasingly, state arts agencies are partnering with state transportation agencies to extend the reach of public art and achieve shared agency goals, such as promoting community engagement and fostering a unique sense of place. Through an innovative arts…
Many state arts agencies run state galleries, artist showcases and juried exhibitions to support and highlight the work of artists in their states. These services often are used to facilitate public access to the arts and highlight communities, artists or issues that may face barriers to receiving creative recognition. The DC Commission on the Arts…
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) has launched the Curatorial Grant Program to help local curators develop and present compelling visual art exhibitions in service to residents of Washington, D.C. The program awards two curators with previous experience an opportunity to stage an innovative and educational exhibition in the agency’s 200 I…
202Creates is a new initiative in Washington, D.C., to showcase the city’s strong creative economy and related arts, humanities and cultural assets. Demonstrating that the nation’s capital is also a capital of creativity, the initiative also is promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education—a priority of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration—and is the launching pad for the…
Designed to Recycle is a new public art collaboration between the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) and the D.C. Department of Public Works. The program’s aim is to turn recycling trucks into mobile canvases highlighting the importance of mitigating waste and protecting the environment. In 2015, the two city agencies organized a…
MuralsDC is a partnership of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) and the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) that aims, through creative engagement with at-risk youth populations, to abate illegal graffiti and to revitalize communities in Washington, D.C. Through the program, DCCAH awards grants of $3,000 to $13,500 for the design,…
State arts agencies are always thinking about how best to communicate with the many constituencies they serve—including artists, legislators, other state officials and taxpayers. Developing and disseminating publications, such as annual reports, strategic plans and performance evaluations, can engender particular communication challenges. Lately, NASAA has noticed interesting examples of how state arts agencies have packaged…
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) has a new dedicated revenue stream, thanks to the legislative work of D.C.’s city council and mayor. A law enacted in August (see Subtitle X on page 102) directs a portion of the city’s annual sales-tax revenue to DCCAH. In addition to the commission’s base budget…
After a Facebook race to the finish, three state arts agencies have stories to tell and lessons to share with their colleagues about last fall’s Facebook Challenge. The Arizona Commission on the Arts, California Arts Council, and D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities challenged each other: Who would be the first to reach 10,000…
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