The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) is committed to uplifting maker spaces as both communal creative spaces and assets for the creative economy. As part of the New Hampshire Makerspace Network, NHSCA facilitates monthly meetings with 14 maker spaces across the state to encourage resource sharing, cooperative marketing, and new partnerships that…
The Guam Council on the Arts & Humanities Agency (CAHA), the state arts agency of the territory of Guam, works to preserve the cultural traditions of Guam and enhance the quality of life for Guam residents through programs and initiatives that celebrate local culture. A good example of this is CAHA’s partnership with the Gef…
The Tennessee Arts Commission launched a new funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations and local governments to help mitigate the devastating impact of the pandemic on Tennessee’s civic life and creative economy. The COVID-19 Arts Resilience Grant provides nonmatching funds ranging up to $5,000 for projects occurring from December 5, 2020, to June 15, 2021. The…
The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture and Humanities (ASCACH) is assisting Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga’s office with the Sogelau Monument Project near the Jean P. Haydon Museum in the village of Fagatogo. As part of its portfolio, ASCACH is responsible for managing the museum programs and preservation of the Sogelau estate, a government-owned area…
In an exciting new opportunity for small creative businesses across Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) has organized the Creative Business Loan Fund. This Creative Business Loan is the direct result of a unique public-private partnership between the state, Bridgeway Capital and Community First Fund. It makes $2.2 million available to support the…
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act included $150 billion in federal funding assistance for states and localities. These dollars (separate from funds distributed through the National Endowment for the Arts) are available to help state and county governments address unanticipated costs of COVID-19. States may elect to use some of the funds…
The COVID-19 pandemic is placing severe restrictions on public gatherings and physical interactions. Those limits in turn curtail opportunities for traditional face-to-face commerce. To help the arts sector address this new reality, state arts agencies are establishing virtual marketplaces and helping artists develop new platforms for online retail. Kentucky, Maryland and North Carolina all offer…
While a variety of national surveys are attempting to assess the effects of COVID-19 on the arts, many state arts agencies are conducting state level research to get an early read on the economic impact of the pandemic. Such surveys are being used to inform policy dialogues with state elected officials as well as to…
The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA) and the Virgin Islands Enterprise Zone Commission, an entity of the U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), have collaborated to sponsor a Made in the USVI Pop-Up Store. The initiative provides business development opportunities for artists, engenders creative collaborations and encourages residents and visitors to “buy…
The Arts Trails Program is a place based art and economic development initiative by New Mexico Arts designed to put New Mexico artists on the map and widen markets for local artisans and creative enterprises. The state arts agency provides funding for community based arts, bringing recognition and beneficial economic development to rural areas rich…