State arts agencies develop strategic plans that articulate their missions and guide their work. Each plan is informed by public input gathered from stakeholders inside and outside of the arts sector, with special care taken to reach populations with limited access to the arts. This high degree of public engagement is a hallmark of state…
Mass Cultural Council has created a suite of plans that focus on different under-resourced communities in Massachusetts. Recent releases included a deaf and disability plan and a Native American and tribal relations plan. The Universe Is My Regalia, a painting by Erin Genia. Image courtesy of Erin Genia and Mass Cultural…
As state governments seek to leverage the economic power of the arts, multiple state arts agencies (SAAs) have been selected to assist in leading strategic plans for their states’ creative economies. State policymakers are seeking to capitalize on the outsize role the creative economy plays in both economic value added and jobs created, with arts…
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 these communities. In addition, the…
Marvin Oliver, Quinault/Isleta, Reaching for the Stars, 1999. Reaching for the Stars uses traditional Northwest Coast designs and motifs. Oliver noted that the print was created to represent “the Raven in the colorful clouds bringing the moon and the stars up into the sky. Raven’s friend, the Eagle, is represented in the black circle surrounding…
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 consultation policies to guide the agency’s work…
In 2023, the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) initiated an assessment of its grant making strategies. As a first step, the agency sought community input through an extensive statewide listening tour. IAC staff and council members conducted 34 town hall meetings in over 20 counties. The meetings were attended by more than 200 cultural organizations as…
Recognizing the importance of creative expression by artists of all abilities as essential to community life, the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) offers the Artists with Disabilities Access Grant Program (ADAP). The program is designed to remove obstacles that may hinder artists with disabilities from fully participating in and contributing to Ohio’s diverse arts scene. The…
As stewards of public funding, state arts agencies continually seek ways to measure and evaluate their grant making. This data-driven self-reflection is essential for better management of funds and improved outcomes, and fills gaps in current programming. As part of its long-term strategy to make its impact more equitable, the California Arts Council (CAC) has…
The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) has engaged the Virginia Department of Health to pursue a new partnership that provides free and discounted tickets to arts organizations for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program cardholders across Virginia. The new Passport Program will provide discounted or free tickets to cultural venues and events for WIC…
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