The State of Oklahoma has enacted a landmark $10 million investment in the arts and cultural sector. H.B. 2941 appropriates American Rescue Plan Act funds to create a new Statewide Recovery Special Account that will be used by the Oklahoma Arts Council to fortify local economies through the arts and rebuild a stronger and more…
Research indicates that museums provide ideal spaces for exploration, immersive learning and critical thinking for children. They also offer opportunities for social, cognitive and emotional development. To provide children and families with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences in 2019 during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Summer…
Arts and culture partnerships can help public health programs achieve their goals with higher levels of participation and efficiency. In an effort to utilize the value of arts to educate communities and build confidence in both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, the CDC Foundation, a nonprofit that is mobilizing the philanthropic efforts of the Centers for…
While cultural activities are resuming nationwide, the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic still reverberates throughout the arts sector. Arts organizations and artists must continue to retool their business practices, find ways to re-engage communities and remain flexible as a new normal emerges. To help Minnesota’s creative sector meet such challenges and navigate a time…
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked significant growth in online arts participation. Even as audiences return to live events, cultural organizations are continuing to use digital platforms to deepen community engagement and make arts programs more accessible to the public. The Vermont Arts Council has launched a new initiative to support continued innovation and expansion in this…
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) contains nearly $200 billion in emergency funding for states and territories to support a continued public health response, build infrastructure and promote equitable recovery. This state-led funding gives states and territories the ability to use these dollars in the ways that are most effective for each state. As with the…
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant income losses for independent artists and creative workers, especially those reliant on gigs and contractual jobs. This trend is concerning not only because of the hardship it caused for these workers and their families, but also because the creative economy relies on the robust production and engagement of artists across…
State arts agencies (SAAs) are continuing to respond to the changing dynamics of the pandemic, which severely disrupted audience attendance patterns for live and in-person arts events. To address this issue, some SAAs are undertaking promotional campaigns to encourage the public to visit cultural venues and participate in the arts. Iowa, North Carolina and New…
In partnership with the Division of Historical Resources, the Florida Division of Arts and Culture has launched the African-American Cultural and Historical Grants program. Legislatively created by Senate Bill 2500, the program has up to $30 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds available for capital project grants. The grants will support projects that construct…
The isolating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of the arts as a vehicle for restoring human connections, building social capital and helping communities heal after difficult experiences. State arts agencies are encouraging this kind of public engagement by supporting projects that embed the arts in civic practice to contribute to the…
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