Florida: Poet Laureate Program Renewed and Formalized
Soon there will be a new Florida poet laureate, the first under the auspices of the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and only the fourth since 1929. The honorary post—which had been a lifetime appointment by the governor, independent of any state agency and not statutorily defined—was formalized as a four-year position by the […]
Utah: Arts and Culture Business Alliance
Thanks to the Utah legislature, the Utah Division of Arts and Museums has a new mechanism and source of funding to foster arts development throughout the state. Recently enacted legislation creates the Arts and Culture Business Alliance, which will support the construction or improvement of arts facilities, encourage the professional development of artists, and increase […]
D.C.: MuralsDC
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, […]
Massachusetts: Universal Programming
Recognizing that arts accessibility is a dynamic goal—a direction more than a destination—the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) created its UP program to help arts and cultural organizations develop the insight, innovation, capacity and drive to evolve their spaces and programming to be inclusive of all audiences. UP, which stands for “universal programming” among other things, […]
California: CREATE CA Report
CREATE CA, a statewide arts education coalition, recently published a summary report of its work to improve California’s public schools through arts education. A Blueprint for Creative Schools distills CREATE CA’s findings and lays the foundation of a 21st-century model of education based on the pedagogical value of the arts and creativity. When CREATE CA […]
Ohio: Arts and Autism Initiative
The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) began its Arts & Autism Initiative in 2012 after a constituent asked about arts activities in Ohio geared toward young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since then, OAC and VSA Ohio, the state organization on arts and disability, have partnered to better support this underserved community. By establishing an […]
Kentucky: Give a Gift from Kentucky Campaign
Every holiday season, the Kentucky Arts Council (KAC) and the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea (KACB), its sibling agency within the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, partner to promote Kentucky art, craft, music, books, specialty foods, and more through the Give a Gift Made in Kentucky campaign. For its part, KAC features on its website […]
California: Arts-in-Corrections
The California Arts Council (CAC), in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), is heading up a revived state commitment to bringing the arts into correctional facilities in effort to reduce inmate recidivism, improve inmate behavior, and foster the development of life skills such as self-discipline, patience and conflict resolution. Through its […]
Alabama and Connecticut: Arts Administration Fellowships
Thirty state arts agencies award fellowship grants to individual artists, but only two of them also offer arts administration fellowships. These programs recognize the achievements—and advance the leadership and management skills—of the hardworking, talented people who make sure theatre curtains rise, gallery doors stay open and communities have opportunities to thrive creatively. Through the Elizabeth […]
West Virginia: Full STEAM Ahead Grants
Innovative ideas may come easily to artists, educators and arts organizations, but funding opportunities to realize them can be more elusive. In West Virginia, this dilemma spawned a unique collaboration to create the Full STEAM Ahead grant program. Through it, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts (WVCA), the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the […]