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 Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC) kicked off its new Arts and the Military Initiative in February when it deployed a survey to assess the existing connections between the state’s arts and military communities as well as to determine what it can do to multiply and strengthen them. According to the survey results, there is a…
The impact of Hurricane Sandy on New Jersey was devastating, and the state’s arts industry was not spared. The 2012 storm destroyed nonprofit arts venues as well as the homes, businesses and studios of artists, leaving in its wake the dual challenge of rebuilding structures and recovering business and revenue loss. With an eye toward…
Space to Create, Colorado is a state-driven effort to develop affordable housing and work space for artists and arts organizations. The brand new initiative—led by Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) in partnership with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, History Colorado, the Boettcher Foundation and the consulting firm Artspace—will develop mixed-use buildings that merge affordable live/work…
Arts Build Communities is a year-long pilot program the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) is launching in July to support arts projects that uniquely address civic challenges and community issues. The catalyst of the pilot—which IAC is conducting in collaboration with the Iowa State University College of Design and the University of Iowa’s Office of Outreach…
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,…
Like many statewide cultural district programs, the Oklahoma Arts Council’s (OAC) Cultural District Initiative aims to help communities identify and leverage their creative assets for economic growth and community vibrancy. Unlike most other statewide cultural district programs, however, there is no legislatively set policy behind OAC’s effort. Without a legislative mandate, OAC was able to design the program…
The tradition of community dialogue and personal expression runs deep in Iowa, as Americans witness every four years when the state begins the nationwide presidential nomination process. Dynamic conversations about the future of the arts and culture are just as important to Iowans, which is why the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) has held the Iowan…
This summer, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development (OCD), the parent agency of the Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA), is building the capacity of Louisiana community leaders to undertake place-based cultural, community and economic development projects. Through OCD’s Creative Communities Initiative, leaders from 10 communities are working with coaches trained by The National Consortium…
Part of the Kentucky Arts Council’s (KAC) effort to foster the state’s cultural assets is to train citizens how to document, interpret and share their community’s cultural heritage. Through its Community Scholars Program, KAC empowers local communities to preserve and celebrate Kentucky’s art and culture. KAC holds training sessions throughout the state twice a year…
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