North Dakota: Governor’s Photo Contest
The North Dakota Governor’s Photo Contest for Travel and Tourism is an annual event that recognizes the creative talent of North Dakotans as well as the natural beauty, abundant wildlife, unique places and vibrant communities of the Peace Garden State. The contest, which is open only to photographers who live in North Dakota, is a […]
California: Reentry through the Arts
Reentry through the Arts is a two-year pilot program the California Arts Council (CAC) developed to foster transformative arts experiences that facilitate rehabilitation and community building. The pilot—which is underwritten by a legislative line item—reflects CAC’s belief that arts participation can be an effective vehicle for rehabilitation, healing and skill building. It awards nonmatching grants […]
Iowa Culture Mobile App
The Iowa Culture app helps Iowans and out-of-state visitors alike to discover, enjoy and share the thousands of arts, culture and historical experiences of the Hawkeye State. The app was developed and is managed by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its constituent agencies, including the Iowa Arts Council (IAC), which identified more than 600 arts locations and […]
Maryland: Artist Registry & Marketplace
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), like most state arts agencies, has long supported individual artists through an artist registry that enables curators, collectors and other arts enthusiasts to discover their work. As the Internet became artists’ primary means for self-promotion and the advent of e-commerce websites like Etsy made it easier for artists to […]
Utah: New Nation Project
Inspired by how the musical Hamilton has spurred interest in American history and the promise of democracy, the New Nation Project is a multipart effort of the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts and its six divisions, including the Division of Arts & Museums, to engage students and citizens in civic and cultural life through […]
Illinois: Arts and Foreign Language Education Grant
Since the Arts and Foreign Language Education Grant Program was legislatively established in 2006, the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) and Illinois State Board of Education—which administer the program through a joint commitment to well-rounded education—have helped nearly 100 school districts around the state integrate arts and foreign language education into their core curricula. The […]
Colorado: Arts in Society
Arts in Society is a two-year pilot program of Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) that supports “social practice” art projects, which work with the medium of interpersonal interaction to strengthen community relationships through dialogue, inclusive action and other forms of social engagement. Each year, CCI and the program’s two funding partners—the Hemera Foundation and Bonfils-Stanton Foundation—are […]
Arizona: AZ ArtWorker
With three consecutive years of funding from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, AZ ArtWorker, an initiative of the Arizona Commission on the Arts (ACA) and Arizona State University (ASU), has created dozens of opportunities for artists in remote and historically underserved communities to connect with and learn from their local, national and international peers. Based […]
Massachusetts: EBT Card to Culture
Knowing that serving underserved communities starts with effective outreach and engagement strategies, the Massachusetts Cultural Council partnered with another state agency—the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services—to ensure equitable access to arts and cultural opportunities around the state for low-income residents. Through the new EBT Card […]
Kansas: Tallgrass Artist Residency
Recognizing that space, time and community are key ingredients for developing a creative career, the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) has launched the Tallgrass Artist Residency. A partnership between KCAIC, the Center for Living Education at Matfield Green and the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University, the residency enables artists […]