Access to the arts is essential for creating vibrant and engaged communities in our nation’s rural areas and small towns. In addition to providing cultural enrichment, arts activities can also offer economic benefits for the communities hosting them. By drawing visitors, these events can help boost local businesses and support the local economy. However, access…
Cultural districts can be an invaluable tool for states seeking to promote economic and community development. NASAA often receives information requests about the variety of strategies that leverage the economic strengths of the arts in cultural districts and the practical policies enacted that make them work. The following examples of state-led cultural districts highlight the…
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act included $75 million in COVID-19 relief funds to be distributed through the National Endowment for the Arts. To achieve broad and inclusive access to federal funds, Congress requires 40% of the Arts Endowment’s grant budget to be allocated to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations—a…
The Young Masters Program is a joint effort of the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) and the Texas Cultural Trust designed to advance the state’s creative economy by investing directly in the education of young artists and, indirectly, in the future of the state’s cultural ecosystem. Through the program, TCA awards grants of $5,000…
A recent partnership between the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) and the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the statewide chamber of commerce representing more than 4,000 businesses, is already paying dividends. This past legislative session, TAB helped TCA realize its legislative vision by working with Texans for the Arts and the Texas Cultural Trust…
With more than 3.6 million residents living beyond its cities and their suburbs, Texas has the largest rural population in the nation. The Rural Initiatives program is how the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) answers the challenge of serving so many rural residents. Through the program, TCA helps rural communities lacking arts groups to…
In December, the Texas Cultural Trust published a report quantifying the economic impact of the state’s creative sector, its arts and culture industries, and its cultural tourism. Update 2012: The Impact of Arts and Culture Industries on the Texas Economy is the latest addition to a suite of materials—shared with state arts agencies at an…
This month’s edition of State to State features recently completed strategic plans from four state arts agencies. Each of these plans is different, showing the agency’s unique approach to planning and adapting its goals and objectives to address its legislative purpose, its current environment and the needs of its citizens. Vermont Arts Council Inspiring a…
Systematic contact with legislators is a key ingredient of successful arts advocacy. Because January is the month in which many state legislatures will reconvene and begin working on fiscal year 2013 budgets, this edition of State to State is dedicated to toolkits produced by state arts agencies to help their grantees: thank legislators for their…
The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is working with the Texas Travel Industry Association to present a series of tourism development workshops. The series, Saddle Up! Rein in the Power of Tourism for Your Community, running from June 2009 until November 2009, will share the latest information and strategies to help Texas communities build…
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