Many people with disabilities confront barriers in their ability to create, access and fully participate in artistic experiences. Such hurdles not only limit their artistic expression but also perpetuate exclusion—highlighting the need for accessible and inclusive initiatives so that everyone can experience the transformative power of the arts. Recognizing the significant challenges faced by individuals…
In 2022, New Jersey’s arts service organizations came together through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Communities of Practice initiative. Through these convenings, the group strategized ways to address important issues affecting the arts field—issues like fair pay, salary transparency, workforce retention and sector sustainability. An outgrowth of this collaborative work was ArtsPay…
Creative districts are a powerful strategy for encouraging place based economic activity and community development, and 17 state arts agencies currently run cultural district programs that oversee more than 400 individual districts. To assist cultural district and creative development managers in running their districts, the Idaho Commission on the Arts (Arts Idaho), Nebraska Arts Council…
The Delaware Division of the Arts, in collaboration with the Delaware Division of Libraries and Lifetime Arts, has been committed to promoting creative aging across the state through innovative programs. The Access Creative Aging project, launched in April 2021, aimed to promote artistic expression and social interaction and to enhance mental and physical health through…
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…
As state legislative sessions move forward, policymakers will need to know how state arts funds are spent and what the return on their investment is. A number of state arts agencies have recently published impact reports that answer such questions. Browse the below to glean ideas for communicating about the importance of state arts agency…
A collaboration of the Rhode Island Foundation and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), the Initiating Equity Work for Small and Volunteer-Led Organizations Program is a capacity building initiative tailored for organizations committed to equity. Designed to address the unique challenges faced by small and volunteer-led organizations, this opt-in program aims to create…
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…
State arts agencies seek to showcase the rich tapestry of culture that exists within each state. Highlighting cultural traditions not only educates the public about the depth and diversity of cultures present in the state but encourages cultural tourism and positive economic impact. For Florida, music resonates through much of the state’s history and cultural…
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…
5 / 55