The arts offer tools that support the health and well-being of veterans. The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) is providing resources and support to meet the unique needs of veterans and active-duty military personnel. With a long-standing commitment to serving Washington’s military communities, ArtsWA and the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs (WDVA) recently partnered to…
State arts agencies continually seek to enliven communities through the creative integration of arts in public space. Increasingly, state arts agencies are partnering with state transportation agencies to extend the reach of public art and achieve shared agency goals, such as promoting community engagement and fostering a unique sense of place. Through an innovative arts…
The Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) supports cultural heritage education and engagement through the Youth Cultural Heritage Grant Program. Funded by the Rasmuson Foundation, the program helps school-age children and youth have meaningful interactions with culture bearers, elders and teaching artists. Students learn traditional and contemporary art forms integral to many aspects of…
Arts and cultural strategies have the potential to strengthen the social fabric of communities. In an effort to address community challenges as well as to encourage economic growth, the Georgia Council for the Arts launched the More than Murals Workshop. The pilot project was developed after noting the overwhelming response to a virtual workshop previously…
Arts and cultural spaces help foster a sense of place and identity for both locals and visitors. To tap into this unique ability of the arts, the Indiana Arts Commission in partnership with Visit Indiana launched the Indiana Arts and Culture Passport. In addition to encouraging visitors to discover Indiana’s vibrant creative spaces, this project…
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…
The arts and arts education play an important role in supporting both students and educators in school environments, with research showing that the arts can bolster student achievement, support effective instruction, and improve school culture and community engagement (learn more). Recognizing the power that arts education holds for all in the education ecosystem, the Indiana…
The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) strives to support individuals and families whose lives are impacted by chronic disease, disability, behavioral health challenges, substance misuse, aging, dementia and incarceration. The Arts in Health Program by NHSCA creates opportunities for the arts to facilitate healing, promote awareness of public health and build healthy…
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…
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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