Knowing that serving underserved communities starts with effective outreach and engagement strategies, the Massachusetts Cultural Council partnered with another state agency—the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services—to ensure equitable access to arts and cultural opportunities around the state for low-income residents. Through the new EBT Card…
In an era of changing audiences, tight budgets, increased competition and exponential technology growth, cultural institutions must seek new ways to keep their offerings fresh and engaging. To tackle this challenge, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) is collaborating with the Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN) on a Creativity Incubator initiative. The…
Through its Artists Open Studios Tour (AOST) program, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts(RISCA) helps local artists gain public exposure, develop their audience and sell their work. AOST grants provide $500 to municipalities that facilitate or otherwise support tours of artists’ studios, which foster cultural vibrancy and, as a result, are an effective strategy for creative…
The Colorado Music Strategy is a new $200,000 public-private partnership between Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) and the Bohemian Foundation that aims to generate opportunities for live music, thereby increasing revenue for musicians and presenting organizations, enriching the state’s culture, and raising its profile as a destination for the arts. The new program includes an annual music…
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…
There are fertile connections between culture and nature, which interagency partnerships in two states are cultivating to inspire both artists and visitors to state parks. Endorsed by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, Arts in the Parks is a joint effort of the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to celebrate shared…
Alaska, unique in many ways, not only has the largest proportion of Native Americans in the country—with 14.8% of residents identifying as Alaska Native—but also is the largest state by land area and one of the least populated. In an effort to help Alaska Native artists thrive in the face of geographical and other challenges,…
The New York Media Arts Map v3 is a new on-line tool of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to help connect media artists, the organizations supporting them and the people interested in the creative potential of new technologies as a media art form. First conceptualized in 2008, the New York Media…
In honor of its 50th anniversary, the Missouri Arts Council (MAC) this summer launched a new effort to fund and facilitate accessible and affordable arts performances in communities in need of cultural support. The Ghost Light Project aims to bring the arts to the 20 (out of 163) state legislative districts that currently do not…
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…
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