Nevada: Accessibility Workshop

The Nevada Arts Council conducted a workshop entitled Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) through Reconciliation, in partnership with the City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs. This program was specifically designed for arts and cultural leaders in nonprofits, municipalities and public institutions. The two-day workshop, attended by 30 participants, explored the intersection of […]

Louisiana: Veterans Songwriting Workshop

More than 284,000 veterans live in Louisiana, and the Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA) is seeking ways to address the unique needs of this population. The LDOA, in concert with Baton Rouge Music Studios and the National Endowment for the Arts, initiated a songwriting workshop for veterans. Songs of Survivors (SOS) workshops are designed […]

Wyoming: Health and Wellness through the Arts

The Wyoming Arts Council’s (WAC) Health and Wellness through the Arts program connects artists, arts organizations, and health service providers to deliver creative opportunities to constituents managing a decline in health, living with a temporary or permanent physical, emotional or cognitive disability, or seeking to improve overall well-being and quality of life. WAC conducted a […]

Maryland: Teaching Artist Credentials

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) is collaborating with the Fine Arts Office at the Maryland State Department of Education to offer a new series of professional development courses designed to strengthen the delivery of community and school based learning experiences for special populations. Course offerings will include older adults (exploring creative aging opportunities for […]

Minnesota: Teaching Artist Training in Creative Aging

The Minnesota State Arts Board joined with Aroha Philanthropies to cosponsor a two-day creative aging training for Minnesota teaching artists. Fifty teaching artists from around the state were selected through a lottery process to participate in the July 2019 training. The training was led by a diverse selection of Minnesota teaching artists who are experienced […]

Massachusetts: New Plan

Recognizing the increasing diversity of Massachusetts as a civic, cultural and economic asset, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) adopted a comprehensive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Plan. The plan guides MCC’s ongoing efforts to honor many dimensions of diversity: age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, geographic origin, […]

Iowa: Creative Aging in Rural Libraries

In Iowa, where three-quarters of the state’s 544 public libraries serve communities with fewer than 2,500 residents, there is a new initiative to support creative aging in rural areas. Iowa Arts Learning in Libraries is a collaborative effort of the State Library of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) to offer free arts classes […]

Kentucky: Arts Access Assistance Grant

Smithsonian American Art Museum | Electronic Superhighway Exhibit

Recognizing that Kentucky residents may be underserved for a variety of reasons—such as age, ethnicity, disability, geographic location or economic status—the Kentucky Arts Council (KAC) designed flexibility into its Arts Access Assistance program so it could annually recalibrate and expand its support of citizens who have limited opportunities to experience the arts. Through the program, […]

Puerto Rico: Cultura Rodante

In the aftermath of Hurricane María in September 2017, communities in Puerto Rico face steep hurdles. Utilities, transportation and communications remain disrupted and many cultural and civic venues are damaged and have yet to resume programming. The Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP), concerned about the mental and emotional health of populations affected by the hurricane, […]

Wyoming: Art in Unlikely Places

Smithsonian American Art Museum | Electronic Superhighway Exhibit

Through a long-standing partnership with the University of Wyoming’s Fine Arts Outreach program, the Wyoming Arts Council (WAC) helps bring the performing arts to untraditional venues across a large, rural state—and to people who may not otherwise have access to creative experiences. WAC’s financial, advisory and promotional support of the Art in Unlikely Places project […]