Kansas Arts Commission: Indigenous Arts Initiative
The Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) is dedicated to expanding its services and outreach to all constituents across Kansas. Recognizing that the state has historically underserved four federally recognized tribes in Kansas, KAC has worked to build long-term partnerships that are cognizant of and serve the needs of artists living in…
Washington: Tribal Cultural Affairs Program
State arts agencies have a directive to recognize the rich tapestry of culture that exists within their states and support access to the creative economy for all constituents. As authorized by the state legislature in 2023, the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) created a Tribal Cultural Affairs program to support tribal…
Alaska: Native Arts and Culture Programs
Of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States, 228 share geography with Alaska. In the latest decennial census, 21.9% of Alaska’s population identified as American Indian or Alaska Native—the highest percentage of any state. Alaska’s Native peoples are comprised of 11 regional cultural groups and there is…
Arizona Tribal Consultation Policy
In 2022 the Arizona Commission on the Arts (ACA) enacted a formal Tribal Consultation Policy, to strengthen its services to the state’s 22 federally recognized tribes. The policy formalizes ACA’s compliance with Section 41-2051 of the Arizona Statutes, which requires all state agencies to “Develop and implement tribal…
North Dakota: Partnering to Support Native Arts and Culture
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 […]
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 […]
New Mexico: 2023 New Mexico Arts Artist Residency
New Mexico Arts recently announced the 2023 New Mexico Arts Artist Residency program awardees. The project will hold two artist residencies at the Bosque Redondo Memorial Historical Site. The Bosque Redondo Memorial Historic Site, located in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, is a historically significant venue. The site is dedicated to preserving the history of the […]
Alaska: Youth Cultural Heritage Grant Program
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 […]
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 […]
Montana: Montana Circle of American Masters
Montana, also known as Big Sky Country, is home to unique artistic traditions. To celebrate the state’s heritage and the deep relationship between place, landscape and culture, the Montana Arts Council (MAC) developed the Montana Circle of American Masters in the Folk and Traditional Arts. Through this program, MAC shines a spotlight on the contribution […]