This month, NASAA asked Loie Fecteau to reflect on her experience as chair of NASAA’s Nominating Committee. I had the great pleasure and privilege of serving this year as chair of NASAA’s Nominating Committee. As anyone who has ever served on NomCom knows, it is a tremendous amount of work and very challenging. But it…
The basket of concepts referred to as creative economy can be said to have tipped into the mainstream of economic development theory and practice. The “tipping point” process Malcolm Gladwell described focused on “how little things can make a big difference” in the acceptance of ideas. I question whether a generation’s worth of economic impact…
I was privileged last month to attend the awarding of the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service to 10 remarkable institutions, including a science center, children’s museum, music museum, art museum, cultural museum, public libraries and county library systems in seven different states. Each award was given to a leader of the institution…
Of the many works of art whose topic is the case for the value of art, one of my very favorites is a poem by A. E. Housman entitled “Terence, this is stupid stuff,” which is the opening line that quotes the opinion of his friends about his writing poetry, and specifically poetry about melancholy…
The portion of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) budget set aside by Congress to be administered by state arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional consortia provides public benefits that strengthen both legislative and popular support for the federal agency. A little history is helpful in understanding these governmental, political and financial benefits. The…
The White House is in the process of vetting candidates to lead the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This presidential appointment, which requires confirmation by the Senate, plays an important role in America’s cultural life. The individual nominated to be the NEA chair has a unique opportunity to implement and actively shape cultural policy.…
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies CEO Jonathan Katz was invited to address the ceremony at the U.S. Department of Education on January 29, 2013, that opened the exhibit of selected student artwork produced as part of the annual National PTA–sponsored program called Reflections. “Diversity Means …” was this year’s theme. I am delighted to…
Throughout the history of state arts agencies, our field has played a key role in helping arts organizations to succeed and deliver value to the public. Through our training programs and grant requirements—and through leading by example during the past 45 years—we have: propagated inclusive strategic planning practices; set high standards for universal accessibility; encouraged…
In Washington, D.C., I have begun to hear former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill’s classic observation that “all politics is local” replaced by “all politics is partisan.” NASAA has maintained, since its inception, a commitment to making the case for the arts based in experience, logic and evidence. What lessons can we draw…
This month, I’d like to share with you my annual report to the NASAA membership, which I presented at Assembly 2012 in Washington, D.C. As we all know, over the past 10 years, two extended recessions have strangled revenues from state sales tax, income tax and property tax. Deficit budgets at all levels of government—as…
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