Ohio: Arts and Autism Initiative
The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) began its Arts & Autism Initiative in 2012 after a constituent asked about arts activities in Ohio geared toward young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Since then, OAC and VSA Ohio, the state organization on arts and disability, have partnered to better support this underserved community. By establishing an […]
California: Arts-in-Corrections
The California Arts Council (CAC), in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), is heading up a revived state commitment to bringing the arts into correctional facilities in effort to reduce inmate recidivism, improve inmate behavior, and foster the development of life skills such as self-discipline, patience and conflict resolution. Through its […]
California: $2-Million Budget Windfall Supports Six New Programs
The California Arts Council (CAC) has created six new programs with an extra $2 million in one-time funds from the California State Assembly. The $2-million supplement, which was allocated from a discretionary fund via a budget bill passed in July, brought CAC’s total fiscal year 2014 budget to $7 million. With the boon of its […]
New York: Regional Economic Development Council Grants for the Arts
New York’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) program, which began in 2011, is a “community-based, bottom up” effort to create jobs and grow the economy. Through the program, the state government provides funding in 10 regions through 26 programs run by various state agencies, including the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Last […]
Mississippi: Toolkit
In addition to incorporating diversity into their own policies and programming, state arts agencies can encourage their grantees and other stakeholders to commit to practices that foster cultural awareness and inclusiveness. A recent example of this can be found in the Mississippi Arts Commission‘s (MAC) Diversity Toolkit, which offers guidance on how grantees can make […]
Oklahoma: Gang Prevention Partnership
An Oklahoma City Police Department program is using the arts to stop kids from joining gangs. Through a partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC), the Oklahoma City Police Department’s gang prevention program—Family Awareness and Community Teamwork (FACT)—has added arts activities as positive alternatives for local youth at two Oklahoma City community centers. The program […]
New York: Webcast of Public Meetings
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has been making public meetings available through webcast since 2007. Constituents have the option of watching a meeting live or at a later time through the on-demand archive. Currently viewers can watch and listen to council meetings, various committee meetings and appeals panels. The on-demand archive […]
Virginia: Celebrating Women in the Arts
Several years ago the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) began hosting regular roundtable discussions among the state’s major arts organizations, with the goal of encouraging these groups to play a strong leadership role in promoting the arts statewide. In May 2007, this group agreed that the arts community needed a high visibility project to demonstrate the breadth and diversity […]
Maryland: Latino Arts Roundtable
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) recently hosted the state’s first Latino Arts Roundtable. The roundtable was intended as forum where ideas could be shared about how to serve the state’s vibrant Latino artists and communities. Through review of data on program participation, MSAC has identified that the Latino community is underrepresented in most of […]
Idaho: Survey of Latino Folklife
The Idaho Commission on the Arts (ICA) released a report that documents the results of a Survey of Latino Folklife for the state. The report cites historical and statistical demographic information of Latinos in Idaho, presents information collected at nine site visits across the state, and concludes with recommendations and a statement about trends, challenges […]