State arts agencies (SAAs) and regional arts organizations (RAOs) have a strong desire to support the creative lives and occupations of their constituents as well as the health of any given creative industry. Programming and grants across Kansas and Wyoming, and a national jazz initiative led by South Arts, showcase the variety of strategies used…
The North Dakota Council on the Arts is building stronger relationships with Native communities by collaborating with Indigenous artists and culture bearers to archive, repatriate, and share traditional songs and important cultural stories. With a collaboration spanning over 10 years, the North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA), 13 Native artists and the North Dakota…
Creators are the foundation of a healthy creative economy. They serve as the originators and producers of creative goods and services. As small businesses, artists and artisans generate economic opportunity while also shaping and facilitating civic engagement. The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) is fueling this component of the creative economy through its Creative…
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…
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