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Nebraska: My Nebraska, Our America
February 3, 2026

Nebraska: My Nebraska, Our America

Many state arts agencies are supporting special America250 initiatives to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Nebraska Arts Council is one example of a state arts agency that is marking this national occasion through a variety of public art activities. The agency recently announced the My Nebraska, Our…

Mississippi: Public Art in Community
December 1, 2025

Mississippi: Public Art in Community

At a glance, the goal of public art seems simple: to beautify public spaces. Yet the benefits of public art extend well beyond beautification, including facilitating community cohesion and placemaking, strengthening local economies, and creating opportunities for cross-sector collaborations. State arts agencies play an integral role in the promotion of public art through special initiatives,…

Florida and Ohio: America 250 Initiatives
October 1, 2025

Florida and Ohio: America 250 Initiatives

Communities across the nation are planning special America 250 events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. As part of this national effort, state arts agencies are launching creative initiatives that celebrate American history and democracy through the arts. Here we feature programs from Florida and Ohio. Florida The Florida Department…

Hawaiʻi: Capitol Waterless Pool Project
February 4, 2025

Hawaiʻi: Capitol Waterless Pool Project

After years of increasing water damage and maintenance costs from the state capitol reflecting pools, the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), in collaboration with Department of Accounting and General Services and the State Historic Preservation Division, pursued a creative solution to an ongoing civic infrastructure problem. After a broad call for…

Hawaiʻi: Supporting Native Hawaiians in Public Art
June 7, 2023

Hawaiʻi: Supporting Native Hawaiians in Public Art

Public art programs are a powerful strategy that state arts agencies employ to encourage public appreciation of the arts, enliven public space, strengthen community identity, and engage and support artists from all backgrounds. The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) has undertaken a series of steps to ensure that its Art in…

Washington, D.C.: Color the Curb School Safety Program
February 1, 2023

Washington, D.C.: Color the Curb School Safety Program

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…

Arkansas: Small Works on Paper Exhibition
January 3, 2023

Arkansas: Small Works on Paper Exhibition

Many state arts agencies facilitate art exhibitions, not only to support the work of artists in their states but also to celebrate creativity and invite civic engagement around art. Touring exhibitions are a special strategy state arts agencies use to make those benefits accessible to diverse communities. Small Works on Paper is a unique annual…

Maine, Oklahoma, South Dakota: Capitol Exhibits
December 6, 2022

Maine, Oklahoma, South Dakota: Capitol Exhibits

Capitol art exhibits are a strategy state arts agencies adopt to showcase and celebrate the arts as an important part of state policy and public pride. Exhibiting artworks or cultural events in state capitol buildings helps to raise public awareness about the arts, create visibility for local artists and educate elected officials about the role…

WESTAF: Have You Seen My Public Art?
November 1, 2022

WESTAF: Have You Seen My Public Art?

Public art has many civic benefits. Aside from enlivening and beautifying public spaces, public art makes communities distinctive and attractive places to live, visit and do business. Whether supported through state percent for art policies or other programs, public art installations can serve as focal points for civic engagement. They create job opportunities for artists…

Kansas: People's Markets Program
June 7, 2022

Kansas: People's Markets Program

The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) is partnering with Lawrence County’s community based food retailers to create the People’s Markets Program. This multipartner initiative is informed by the Ethnic Food Retail Study prepared by the KU Center for Community Health & Development in 2019 for the Douglas County Food Policy Council. The study was…

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