Pandemic Lessons to Keep … and Toss
I was invited to speak at this year’s South Dakota Arts Conference, presented last month by Arts South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. I was excited to join South Dakota Arts Council Executive Director Patrick Baker and Chair Mary Bordeaux at their first in-person convening since the pandemic. Following are my remarks. Hello […]
Reading That’s Inspiring Me
Reading powers us personally and professionally, and I’m always appreciative of the opportunity to pick up something new to read. Below I’m pleased to share what’s within arm’s reach for me these days; they’re providing ample food for thought and inspiration. Perhaps one will wind up on your reading list. How to Lead When Your […]
Work and Well-being: More Lessons from the Pandemic
One year ago, I focused my April 2021 NASAA Notes column on work and well-being lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, after one year of managing the impact of the pandemic on the NASAA office and staff, I realized there were important lessons that deserved attention beyond the pandemic, lessons I wanted […]
NASAA Launches Second Cohort of DEI Mentorship Program to Benefit SAA People of Color
As NASAA continues to offer a growing portfolio of programs and services to support state arts agencies’ diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, I am pleased to announce that we’ll soon launch the second cohort of the DEI Mentorship Program for state arts agency people of color. The program is designed to support members of […]
NASAA Testimony on Creative Economy to U.S. House Committee on Small Business
For the first time in history, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business held a hearing on the state of the creative economy. “The Power, Peril and Promise of the Creative Economy” took place on January 19, and I had the opportunity to share testimony with the committee. Read NASAA’s testimony on the […]
New Resources Highlight Value of Arts Education
For 26 years, the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) has served as the national hub for advancing arts education across the country. This unique partnership is fortified by a network of more than 100 like-minded organizations, is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education, and is administered by Education […]
Reopening to Arts Experiences
As winter approaches and the air becomes cooler in several regions of the country, I find myself longing for the intimacy and subdued lighting of indoor performing arts events. As an enthusiastic devotee of the arts, like many I come alive at arts events both indoors and outside. I have missed my fellow arts family, […]
President’s 2021 State of the States Address
I delivered these remarks to NASAA members at our 2021 Business Bash Celebration in late October. There are so many amazing, innovative examples of state arts agencies’ courage and commitment during the past year, I wish I could have named them all! The year 2020 gave us COVID-19 and COVID shutdowns, unimaginable deaths, culture […]
NASAA’s Road for FY2022: Advocacy, Equity, Recovery, Community
It is October 2021, the beginning of autumn and nearly two years after COVID-19 made its debut in our country. With vaccinations slowly and pretty steadily on the rise, arts venues that were once shuttered reopening, students resuming in-school learning, and the workforce heading back to the office, I find myself wondering what the new […]
NASAA Launches an Anti-Bias Training Series for State Arts Agencies
As NASAA’s fiscal year draws to a close, our staff, Governance Committee and board of directors are taking time to reflect on NASAA’s work in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). As you know, NASAA began its deep focus on DEI in fall 2015. As we advance this work each year, we affirm the importance of […]