In January 2021, the state of Massachusetts enacted legislation establishing the Massachusetts COVID-19 Cultural Impact Commission—a special legislative commission charged with developing strategies for the recovery, growth and vitality of the creative sector in the commonwealth. Cochaired by state Sen. Ed Kennedy and state Rep. Carole Fiola, the commission included representation from the Mass Cultural…
State and federal arts funding often is restricted to organizations holding 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service. Many arts groups worthy of public support, however, exist outside of the formal 501(c)(3) business model. The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) has developed an innovative way to assist such organizations by creating purposeful partnerships between…
Arts and culture play a vital role in crisis recovery and collective well-being. There is currently a high level of interest in learning how to reopen the arts sector after the programming reductions forced by COVID-19. However, resuming arts activities and reopening cultural venues require addressing a kaleidoscope of ever-changing circumstances. Reopening practices necessitate taking…
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented arts organizations with unprecedented financial challenges. Their primary sources of income—program earnings and contributions—are likely strained or delayed, and their ability to fundraise has been limited. ArtsWA, the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Oregon Arts Commission recently partnered to present a webinar, Creative Borrowing for Your COVID-19 Comeback, that discussed how nonprofit organizations can…
The COVID-19 pandemic will have wide-ranging ripple effects for the creative sector. Artists and arts organizations must not only adapt to immediate losses of income, they also must reposition themselves for an uncertain future. Many state arts agencies are organizing technical assistance and education programs designed to support sound planning as well as present-day triage.…
State arts agencies are making rapid changes to their grant programs to help the arts field adjust to unforeseen circumstances stemming from COVID-19. These tactics include accelerating grant payments, extending deadlines, waiving matching requirements, converting project awards to operating support, and revising budget parameters to allow more flexibility in how award dollars are used. Some…
The Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC) has launched a new web page designed to help artists and arts organizations to recover from natural and other disasters. The Oklahoma Arts Disaster Resource Page features grants, toolkits and other resources from national and regional entities—such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness & Emergency…
According to the results of a pilot social impact study that the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M) is conducting, museum visitation is correlated with statistically significant increases in health and well-being, intercultural competence, strengthened relationships, and continued education and engagement. UA&M undertook this project with Thanksgiving Point—a nonprofit farm, garden and museum complex…
This summer, the North Carolina Arts Council (N.C. Arts Council) is working with two interns to cultivate the state’s folklife infrastructure as well as the future of public-sector leadership. The interns will help realize N.C. Arts Council’s folklife programming—by engaging in grant making, field research, financial planning and management, and other activities—while benefiting from related professional…
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) is the first-ever state partner in the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) internship program. Created by Americans for the Arts (AFTA), this national program, which began in New York City, strives to strengthen and advance diversity in the arts management field and help foster the next…
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